'Some Naxal-hit states to get choppers'

The government today said that it has permitted some naxal-affected states to hire helicopters for supporting security forces involved in anti-Maoist operations.

The government on Tuesday said that it has permitted some Naxal-affected states to hire helicopters for supporting security forces involved in anti-Maoist operations.

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"To meet the shortfall, the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected states have been permitted to hire helicopters under the security related expenditure scheme on need basis," minister of state for home Jitendra Singh told Lok Sabha in a written reply.

Bihar, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa have also projected the requirement of dedicated helicopters to support the security forces deployed in LWE-affected areas. As per inputs, the state governments of Maharashtra and Orissa have hired one helicopter each from Pawan Hans to support the security forces deployed in LWE affected areas, he said.

"At present, a total of 9 helicopters of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Border Security Force (BSF) have been provided to support the security forces deployed in Naxal-affected states.

"Out of these, four Mi-17 helicopters of IAF are located in Chhattisgarh and out of five 'Dhruv' helicopters of BSF, three are placed at Raipur in Chhattisgarh and two at Ranchi in Jharkhand," the minister said.