Central forces to remain in Kandhamal till May 16

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By: John Malhotra
Saturday, 25 April 2009, 12:12 (IST)
The Orissa administration or the riot-affected victims need not worry for security till May 16, as the Election Commission has further extended the period of Central force deployment in Kandhamal district.Last week, the state government expressed apprehensions over the withdrawal of the CRPF forces with the end of polling. It had pleaded for an extension at least till the election results were announced."The Election Commission and the Union Home Ministry have agreed to retain 20 companies of Central force out of the total 39 companies deployed in Kandhamal till the end of the election process,” Home Secretary A P Padhi said.The Ministry of Home Affairs (NHA) and the Election Commission (EC) jointly took the decision.There are total 45 CRPF companies, of which 20 have been deployed in Kandhamal and the rest 25 scattered to other parts of the state. With the conclusion of elections, the Centre has called back the forces except those deployed in Kandhamal.The forces were very instrumental in maintaining peace and stability during the time of elections, last week. There were no reports of violence on riot-affected Christians in relief camps.The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in fact appraised the Centre that although normalcy has returned in the state, there is dire need of forces at least till the 3,000 victims in relief camps returned to their villages.The forces were deployed in the state after the murder of Swami Laxmananada Saraswati and four of his disciples at Jalespeta ashram.