Bhubaneswar: Unfolding plans to get a cobra battalion of CRPF for anti-Naxal operations, the Orissa government today said massive recruitment of about 4000 security personnel, including tribal youths, was being undertaken to strengthen security network in the state.
"It has been decided to locate one Cobra (commando battalion for resolute action) battalion of CRPF in Koraput district for anti-Naxalite operations," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in the state assembly replying to a debate on a demand for supplementary grants for Home department.
The state government is in the process of selecting land for establishment of the battalion, he said refuting charges by the opposition that law and order machinery had collapsed and threat from red rebels had grown in the state.
Dissatisfied with the Chief Minister's reply, the entire opposition staged a walkout accusing the government of being "insincere" and "non-serious" in improving security scenario.
The Chief Minister, on the other hand, listed steps to improve security status and said in order to ensure proper planning and execution of anti-Naxalite operations, control rooms are being set up in Special Operation Group (SOG) and Naxalite-affected districts.
A massive recruitment drive has been undertaken to fill 2,075 vacancies of constables in civil police and 541 posts of sepoy in Orissa State Armed Police (OSAP), he said, adding recruitment test for appointment of 266 signal constables and 251 assistant drivers is in final stage.
Similarly, recruitment test for filling 1,138 constables of 4th and 5th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) is underway, he said.
