Bhubaneswar (PTI): Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday protested the withdrawal of paramilitary forces from Kandhamal, hit by communal riots ten months ago, and demanded that the Centre redeploy them in the sensitive district and Maoist-hit areas of the state.

As four companies of CRPF, the last batch of the central force, began pulling out of Kandhamal, Patnaik asked the Centre to redeploy them to ensure lasting peace in the troubled district.

Official sources said Mr. Patnaik expressed surprise over the force withdrawal as it came a few days after Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's two-day visit to Orissa on June 25 and 26 during which the situation in Kandhamal was discussed with him.

The chief minister had apprised Chidambaram about the need for keeping the central force in Kandhamal till the situation became normal, they said.

However, it was surprising that soon after Mr. Chidambaram's visit the remaining CRPF jawans were withdrawn, the sources said adding that Patnaik has sought redeployment of force in Kandhamal till normalcy is restored there.

The chief minister also asked the Centre to rush seven companies of CRPF to Orissa immediately for deployment in Maoist-hit areas.