Bhubaneswar: In the wake of an ambush by Maoists in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer, on Tuesday sought an extra 25 companies of para-military force and three helicopters for free and fair elections in Naxalite-hit areas.
"We have sought 25 more companies of CPMF and three choppers," Additional CEO NK Nayak said.
A company comprises around 100 personnel.
Sources in home department said an alert has been issued in all the bordering districts to ensure that no influx of rebels takes place after the Chhattisgarh incident.
Though the state has 89 companies of CPMF, it requires an additional 25 companies as many districts, mainly bordering Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, are severely hit by Naxalite menace.
Officials feel that choppers are essential due to inaccessibility and remoteness of areas in districts like Malkangiri, Koraput, Bolangir, Nuaparra, Kalahandi, Rayagada and Gajapati districts. There is no mobile network in many places due to hilly terrain which impeded officials from conducting election works.
Senior officials apprehend that the red rebels might sneak into Odisha as combing operations have been intensified on the other side of the border.
"Division of Andhra Pradesh is also another problem for Odisha. The rebels may take advantage of that situation," said Odisha`s former Director General of Police Gopal Nanda.
