Orissa to set up Special Reserve Force to tackle Naxalite menace

Bhubaneswar, Oct 23 (UNI) Concerned over the killing of South Western Range DIG Jasbinder Singh by the suspected Naxalites in Rayagada this noon, the Orissa government today decided to constitute a Special Reserve Force with 1500 ex-army personnel to tackle the extremist situation in the state.

The decision to constitute a Special Reserve Force was taken at a high level review meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik in the wake of killing of Mr Singh.

State Chief Secretary Subash Pani,Director General of Police Amarananda Pattnaik and State Home Secretary Tarun Kanti Mishre were present at the meeting.

The Chief Minister had also dashed a letter to the Union Home Minister reiterating his earlier demand for deployment of two additional battalions of CRPF for the extremist affected areas of the state and include three more districts for special grants under Security Related Expenditure(SRE) in the extremist-dominated districts.

The meeting also decided to create a Special Security unit to meet the special security requirements in the state.

South Western range DIG Jasbinder Singh was proceeding from Sunabeda to Rayagada to attend a function of surrender of naxalites he was attacked near Burja.

Suspected Naxalites fired two shots at him, one of which hit his head. He died on his way to the Rayagada hospital.

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