Bhubaneswar, Feb 4 (IANS) The left-wing extremist violence in Orissa declined in 2010 compared to the previous year, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said Thursday.

Addressing the 55th senior police officers' conference at Cuttack, he said it is a matter of satisfaction that law and order situation remained by and large peaceful in a scenario of rapid industrialisation and increasing economic activities.

"The police have done well, not only in maintaining law and order but also in containing the leftwing extremist problem that has posed a threat to the internal security of the country," Patnaik said.

"There has been a distinct improvement in the situation with decline in quantum of left-wing extremist violence in 2010 in comparison to 2009," he said.

Giving the statistics, he said that during the last three months alone, the security forces have conducted as many as 214 special operations and have achieved "considerable success".

As many as 91 Maoists have been arrested, 24 Maoists have died in police action and 54 weapons have been recovered, he added

"I understand that the coordination between state police and central forces deployed in the state has improved, which will further strengthen anti-Naxalite (Maoist) operations," Patnaik said.