Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik may be asking the Centre for more paramilitary forces to combat the Maoists but differences have started surfacing between the central forces already stationed in the state and the state police over utilisation of the personnel.

On his return from Delhi last week, Patnaik said: “I had asked the Union Home Ministry for seven more battalions (nearly 7,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces. But that has not been forthcoming.”

A senior CRPF official associated with anti-Maoist operations, however, said the central paramilitary force had been urging the state police to utilise the three battalions of CRPF and one Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) stationed in the southern districts of Malkangiri and Koraput. “We are telling them repeatedly to use our forces. These people (CRPF) as well as CoBRA are just spending time watching TV in the absence of real action,” said the CRPF officer, requesting anonymity.

A senior officer of the Orissa Police associated with anti-Maoist operations countered the CRPF allegations, saying the CRPF forces were of little use. “These people (CRPF) throw a thousand tantrums before any operations and recuse themselves over silly reasons. They are good for nothing. Till date, CoBRA officers have not done any operation and are happy sitting in their camps. What we need are officers from the Border Security Force who have experience in jungle warfare,” he said.

Another CRPF official said no anti-Naxal offensive was being carried out by the police in the most-affected Malkangiri and Koraput districts. “More than 95 per cent area of Malkangiri and 75 per cent area of Koraput are beyond the state’s control,” he said.

... contd.