IANS

Bhubaneswar, Jul 3: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has opposed the withdrawal of central forces from Kandhamal district, which witnessed communal riots last year, and demanded their re-deployment to ensure peace in the region, officials here said Friday.

"Patnaik has requested the central government to re-deploy the forces till the situation becomes completely normal," a senior official of the chief minister's office told IANS.

Four companies of central paramilitary forces were withdrawn from Kandhamal, about 200 km from here, Wednesday. They were the last of the central forces posted there to maintain peace.

At least 4,000 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were deployed in the district in the aftermath of the communal violence that erupted following the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides Aug 23 last year.

At least 38 people were killed and over 25,000 Christians forced to flee after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs in the aftermath of the attack on Saraswati.

Although no communal violence has been reported from the region since October last year, Nearly 1,200 people are still living in three government relief camps.

The central government had directed the state government earlier this year to initiate withdrawal of the paramilitary forces in phases.

Patnaik had apprised home minister P. Chidambaram about the need for keeping the central forces in the region during the latter's visit to the state June 25 and 26.

On Thursday, the chief minister expressed surprise on how the forces were withdrawn a few days after Chidambaram's visit, the official said.