Centre ensures adequate security to Orissa

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram assured Naveen Patnaik government that Centre would provide adequate security to ensure free and fair elections, scheduled on April 16 and 23, after reviewing the internal security situation on his arrival in Orissa Friday.

Chidambaram, however, asked Orissa government to take adequate measures to tackle Maoist insurgency and communal violence.

“It is the duty of the state government to maintain law and order in Kandhamal and other Naxalite affected areas,” the home minister said, but clarified that the Centre would leave no stone unturned to provide all necessary security help for the smooth conduct of elections in the state.

Official sources said Chidambaram had met senior administrative and police officials along with the chief minister at the state secretariat.

About the helicopters to be provided to the state, Chidambaram said home ministry was procuring new helicopters. We would consider in the matter if the state government come with concrete proposals.

Meanwhile, the three Election Commissioners led by CEC N Gopalaswami has reviewed the poll preparedness in the state.

Orissa, which faced the worst communal violence recent times, will go to assembly (147 seats) and parliamentary (21 seats) elections on April 16 and 23.

At least 38 people were massacred in communal violence that erupted last year in Kandhamal district following the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his four disciples on Aug 23.

Since then many traumatised people, who left their homes, are still living at other places in the state or in relief camps set up by the district administration.

How would a large number of people who are still living in six relief camps at K Nuagaon, Tikabali, Raikia and Udayagiri blocks be able to case their votes? District officials said they were trying to convince these people to return their homes.