KalingaTimes Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, March 17: Fifteen of the total 30 districts of Orissa have been identified as naxal-affected district so far, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said in the State Assembly on Monday.

In reply to a question raised by ruling Biju Janata Dal legislator Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak on the issue, Patnaik said 14 revenue districts such as Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Nawarangpur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal and Jajpur had been declared identified as Maoist-hit.

The district of Nayagarh had also been included in the category after the Maoist attack and arms loot incident in the district on the night of February 15, Patnaik said.

Besides, two police districts in the State – Berhampur in Ganjam district and Rourkela in Sundargarh district had also been identified as naxal-affected areas, the Chief Minister said.

As regards the number of arrest of Maoists in the six months, Patnaik said that 63 extremists were arrested in different parts of the State from September 2007 to February 2008.

Replying to another question by BJD member Ranendra Pratap Swain on the issue financial nexus of the naxalites operating in the State, the Chief Minister said information received from various sources and also a study of various naxal documents suggested that the extremists were mostly collecting fund by means of extortion from landlords, contractors, business persons, business houses, mine owners etc.

The naxalites were also raised funds by imposing fines in Praja Courts and through membership fees and sale of party documents.

“They are learnt to raising fund through ganja cultivation in their pockets of influence,” Patnaik said.