BHUBANESWAR: Expressing concern over the high casualty rate of civilians and police personnel, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday asked the State Government to learn from the Centre and other States how to tackle the Maoist menace.Chidambaram reviewed the situation in the Maoist-affected areas of the State at a high-level meeting here attended by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.About 10,000 Central armed forces and officers are engaged in anti-Maoist operations in the State, Chidambaram told mediapersons after the meeting. “I have impressed upon the State administration to show results,” he said.This review was mutually reinforcing and beneficial, the Home Minister said, and hoped that the edge of the Naxalites will be blunted. “There is progress, but I think that there is great scope for improvement,” he said.“I have learnt their (State) problems. Now Odisha should learn a little more from other States and the Centre...the State administration and the police should gain mastery over the situation,” Chidambaram said.The Minister said the number of casualty of civilian and security forces stands at 48 by the end of October. This may go up by the end of the year, he said, adding that this is unacceptably high.Pointing out that about 60 police station areas are affected by Left-Wing Extremists (LWEs), Chidambaram said four years ago only four battalions of Central Para-military Forces (CPMFs) were deployed in the State, which has now increased to 13 battalions, besides one battalion of CoBRA force.Naveen, however, claimed there is a decline in Maoist-related casualty in the State in comparison to the previous years. “We have made much progress on the Maoist front,” Naveen said. Reacting to Chidambaram’s advice to the State Government, the Chief Minister said hopefully other States and the Centre will learn about anti-Maoist campaign from Odisha. He, however, maintained that the State is always open to learn from others.Naveen said the Government informed Chidambaram that it is alert and vigilant about Maoist activities. Funds earmarked for development work in Maoist-affected areas have been utilised very well, he said.The Chief Minister said the Government also raised the issue of requirement of funds for completing flood relief work in the State quickly. Official sources said the issue of how the LWE affects education was also discussed. About 150 schools will be opened and 7,000 teachers appointed in the Maoist- affected areas of the State.
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