Orissa deploys chopper to fight Maoists

Orissa on Monday deployed a chopper to help security forces fighting Maoists in the state, police said.

The 26-seater Pawan Hans MI 172 multi-role twin engine helicopter, which landed in state capital Bhubaneswar on Sunday, is the first chopper the state is going to use exclusively in anti-Maoist operations.

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“It has been placed at our disposal and will be moved as per requirements,” Inspector General of Police (operations) YB Khurania told IANS.

The expenditure will be borne by the central government.

Orissa has been urging the central government to provide three dedicated choppers to tackle the guerrillas, who are active in more then half of the state's 30 districts.