Maoists-hit Odisha district seeks choppers, forces

District authorities in Maoists-hit Malkangiri in Odisha have asked for three choppers and additional central forces for conducting free and fair Lok Sabhaand assembly elections next month, an official said Wednesday.

The district, which shares its border with Chhattisgarh's Sukma district where the rebels killed 15 security personnel and one civilian a day ago, has asked the government to provide three more battalions of central forces, Superintendent of Police Akhileswar Singh told IANS.

He said the Malkangiri district currently has about three battalions of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel deployed there.

"We have asked for three more battalions," he said.

Similarly, the district administration has asked the state government to provide three choppers during the election.

Polling will be held simultaneously for the 147-member assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats from Odisha in two phases: April 10 and 17. The balloting in Malkangiri district would be conducted in the first phase.

Akhileswar Singh said the report that some Maoists from the district were part of the group that carried out the audacious attack in Chhattisgarh Tuesday, killing 15 security personnel, seems to be untrue.

No Maoist movement from Malkangiri was noticed before and after the attack. "At present there is no evidence to suggest that the rebels from our area went to Chhattisgarh," he said.