Orissa CM orders inquiry into distribution of Naxalite leaflets

Bhubaneswar, Apr 27 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today ordered an inquiry into the distribution of four-page leaflets purportedly written by the leftwing ultras in the twin towns of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar yesterday.

The leaflets distributed and circulated at some selected places in the twin cities exhorted the Orissa police to join the movement launched by the Maoists for a new democratic set up.

It also justified the attack on the small town of R Udayagiri on March 24 and the subsequent looting of arms and ammunition from the police barrack.

The Maoists while describing their attack on the police station said they have lost two comrades but in retaliation killed three policemen and injured several others.

They urged the policemen to dissociate from the government and joined their movement for a better society.

When contacted by the newsmen, the Chief Minister said the state government was vigilant of the situation and taking all possible steps to ensure the safety of the citizens.

Mr Patnaik said he had submitted various proposals to the Centre during the recent meeting of the Chief Ministers of naxalite affected states convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to combat the left wing ultras in the state.

On the distribution of leaflets by the Maoists in the state capital, Mr Patnaik said the police have been asked to inquire the incident and submit a report at the earliest.

State Home Secretary Santosh Kumar said the government has taken all precautionary measures to counter any possible naxalite attack in the state. He said all the 83 police stations in the naxalite dominated areas would be fortified soon and additional forces would be deployed with modern arms and ammunition to keep a strong vigil on the naxalite activities.

Mr Kumar said the Chief Minister and Finance Minister had agreed to fill up the 961 vacancies in the police force forthwith and funds for the purpose had been sanctioned.

He said the state government had sufficient modern equipment to handle the naxalite but what we are lacking was the manpower.

The second India Reserve Battalion (IRB) comprising nearly six platoon of force would be soon raised in the state.

The Home Secretary said the Centre had already sanctioned Rs 6 crores out of Rs 13 crores earmarked for raising the 2nd IRB for the state.

He, however, maintained that the state government required one time grant to raise the second IRB as nearly Rs 35 crores would be required for construction of building and other establishment to have a force of 1000 personnel in the battalion.

UNI