Orissa to use CRPF to prevent children from joining Maoists

Bhubaneswar, Apr 29 : Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Tuesday that the State Government would take the help of paramilitary forces like the CRPF to prevent children from joining Maoists in Orissa.

The decision came after reports surfaced that the Maoists were targeting poor children, especially school dropouts to expand their base in the southern districts of Malkangiri and Gajpati.

"We will initiate action through the paramilitary forces and the local police to stop children from joining the Maoists," Patnaik said.

"The Maoists have formed a bal sangathan and added another boy brigade known as "dalam" to the existing three boy brigades," Malkangiri District Superintendent of Police S K Gajbhiye said.

"Now they have a new dalam named "machkund" which would operate in Bondaghati, Balimela, Lamtaput and Ankadel area," he added.

Maoists have their presence in 14 of the 30 districts in Orissa, they have formed "bal sangathans" in only two districts of Malkangiri and Gajapati, sources said.

"While three boys recently surrendered before police, three others had already left the outfit. Only one child could be in the Maoist cadre in north-central zone," said Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Arun Sarangi.

ANI