The State needs an additional 50 companies of Central forces for management of the ensuing twin elections, DGP Prakash Mishra told reporters after reviewing the situation in the southern range here.
Mishra said there is no question of diverting the Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMF) as well as the SOG from the ongoing operations against the Maoists to managing the elections. "It is not advisable. They will of course provide security to the polling booths in their respective areas but cannot be solely employed for the whole election exercise," he said.
Mishra said the State has already asked the Centre to provide additional 50 companies of CPMF or about 5,000 security personnel for smooth conduct of the lok Sabha and Assembly polls in both the phases.
The DGP said special attention will be given to the cut-off areas of Malkangiri which has become a hub of Maoists, adding, there are some pockets in Kandhamal, Malkangiri and Nuapada districts where the left Wing Extremism (lWE) could pose serious challenges.
He said a proper mechanism has been put in place for coordination with the police of neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Jharkhand to ward off possible offensive by the ultras during the elections.
"But we will do our best to ensure peaceful voting," he said. He informed that the police have received permission to use 200 satellite phones to counter communication problems in the hilly and inaccessible areas in the State.
The DGP also said the police were trying to improve their intelligence gathering network prior to the elections. "We do not have to fall back on air surveillance or choppers. We will use our intelligence network," he said.