CRPF to be withdrawn from Kandhamal by month-end

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BHUBANESWAR: Much to the chagrin of the State Government, the Centre turned down its request for continued deployment of the Central para-military forces in the communally sensitive Kandhamal district.As per the latest communique of the Home Ministry to the State, the seven companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed in Kandhamal will be withdrawn by the end of this month.Earlier, the Home Ministry had directed the CRPF headquarters for withdrawal of its existing force from Kandhamal by May 26. The Ministry, however, deferred the date of shifting to May 30 for some unknown reasons, official sources said.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took up the issue with the Home Ministry requesting not to withdraw the Central forces as four relief camps are still operating in the district and those taking shelter in relief camps are not prepared to return home.Although peace has returned to the district which has not seen a single untoward incident even during the , the decision for withdrawal of Central forces has unnerved the district administration.Highly placed sources in the Home Department told this paper that arrangements are underway for deployment of Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP) in place of CRPF. The Government is well prepared to take over the security measures in the district after withdrawal of the Central forces, the sources said.There were 42 companies of CRPF in the district till January. However, the Centre started withdrawing para-military forces from the district in phases leaving 20 companies till the end of elections. Immediately after the elections, 13 companies were withdrawn.The Home Department sources said that redeployment of Central forces for anti-Naxal operation in Kandhamal district is likely and the Government expects an early decision from the Centre.