India fortifies armories to avert attack

NEW DELHI, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- India's Interior Ministry asked Orissa state to fortify police stations and armories to deter attacks by Maoist rebels.

An Interior Ministry official said Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has, following instructions from the federal government, announced at least 10 measures, including fortification of police stations and armories and created a new battalion to counter Maoists attacks.

Patnaik said the state police launched massive combing operations in the forests of Ganjam and Kandhmal districts where rebels had looted arms and besieged Nayagarh district three days ago.

He told the state assembly that one of the two looted trucks was recovered.

"Forty percent of the looted weapons and 50 percent of the ammunition had been recovered," Patnaik said. "The state government had requested the federal Interior Ministry for five more companies to comb the areas held by the rebels."