The State Government is worried over the exclusion of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts from the list of Maoist-affected zones as the problem of Leftwing Extremism (LWE) is dynamic in nature.
Looking at the threat of ultras, the State Home Department has requested the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to include both the districts once again in the list.
The MHA has excluded both the tribal zones, which was infested with ultras earlier, however movement of Maoists are being occasionally reported in these neighbouring districts of West Bengal.
Maoists are moving from place to place and their movement is causing worry for the State Government, which has been facing the ultras for quite some years.
Where ever there is pressure on the Maoists, they were sneaking into safer zones, where there is less presence of security forces.
Due to shortage of Central security forces, deployment of CRPF is not there in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar though both are border zones.
Only 16 battalions of Central security forces are deployed in the LWE affected areas of the State.
With the Government of India excluding six districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar from the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) districts, as these districts are seen as “Maoist-free zones”, the State Government has expressed concern.
While excluding six districts from SRE list, two districts of Boudh and Angul has been included by MHA, officials said. Earlier 19 districts of Odisha were in the list of SRE districts and all security related expenditures were covered by the Government of India, now it has come down to 15.
Now in the changed scenario, all aspects of security spending in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar are borne by the State Government, informed officials. While Maoist menace is an internal security issue of the country, Union Government funding support is necessary for the purpose, said a Home Department.
Similarly, Kalahandi is one of the worst affected districts by the Maoist and repeatedly the State Government has requested MHA to include this tribal zone as worst affected one.
Now, Malkangiri and Koraput are treated as “Worst-affected districts”. However, Kalahandi is the corridor for ultras as they are sneaking into Odisha through this district and are scaling up their activities in the tribal zones.
In fact in 2018, Kalahandi has seen a significant surge in Maoist activities and the State Government has brought it to the notice of the MHA, officials say.
More focussed attention is needed in Kalahandi and prioritisation of resource mobilisation is required, admit top cops engaged in anti-Maoist operations in the district.
Looking at the growing menace of the ultras in Kalahandi, the State Government has once again requested the MHA to include Kalahandi as one of the worst-affected districts, said an official.