More central forces in Orissa for anti-Maoist drive

BHUBANESWAR - About 1,000 more Border Security Force (BSF) troopers have reached Orissa’s Koraput district to hunt down Maoist guerrillas, police said Saturday.

About 500 troopers had reached earlier this week.

“One battalion of BSF had already landed in the district. Two more battalions reached in the district yesterday (Friday). They will now familiarise themselves with the district,” a senior police officer said.

However, the officer did not disclose the date for beginning the crackdown.

Jharkhand and West Bengal, both of which border Orissa, are engaged in a sweeping crackdown on the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist.