Large Cache Of Maoist Arms, Explosives Recovered In Joint BSF-DVF Operation In Odisha's Malkangiri
Security personnel also recovered Maoist literature, documents and articles of daily use from the hideouts, indicating sustained insurgent activity in the area: Reports
BHUBANESWAR: Security forces on Tuesday recovered a substantial cache of arms, ammunition and explosive materials believed to belong to Maoist insurgents during a joint anti-Naxal operation in Odisha's Malkangiri district police said.
The recovery was made during a night-long combing operation conducted by personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the District Voluntary Force (DVF) in the forested areas of Kerimitia and Katuapadar under Malkangiri police limits.
Acting on intelligence inputs, security teams carried out intensive searches in suspected Maoist hideouts deep inside the forest. During the operation, they detected and raided several concealed dump sites allegedly used by Maoist cadres for storing weapons and explosives.
According to police, a total of 32 items of Maoist-related arms, ammunition and explosive materials were recovered from multiple locations. The seized cache included firearms, improvised weapons, tiffin bombs, grenades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), rifle ammunition, an AK-47 magazine, light machine gun (LMG) ammunition and other explosive components.
Security personnel also recovered Maoist literature, documents and articles of daily use from the hideouts, indicating sustained insurgent activity in the area.
Officials suspect the weapons and explosives had been stockpiled for possible attacks on security forces engaged in anti-Maoist operations in the region.
Preliminary investigations suggest the dense forest belt was being used as a strategic logistics and storage hub by Maoist cadres. The recovered materials were found concealed at multiple locations across difficult terrain, highlighting the group's continued attempts to maintain operational infrastructure in the area.
Malkangiri has long been one of Odisha's most Maoist-affected districts and remains a focus of intensified counter-insurgency operations by security agencies. The district shares borders with Maoist-affected areas of neighbouring states, making it a strategically significant zone in the anti-Naxal campaign.
Addressing reporters at the district police headquarters, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Vinod Patil confirmed the recovery and said anti-Maoist operations would continue across vulnerable forest pockets.
"Search operations are underway and efforts will be intensified to identify and dismantle any remaining Maoist hideouts in the region," the SP said.
Security officials said sustained surveillance and coordinated operations would continue to prevent the regrouping of Maoist cadres and strengthen security in the district.
