Odisha: Security Forces Recover Major Maoist Arms Cache In Odisha's Malkangiri Forests
The recovery was made during a search operation conducted by the District Voluntary Force (DVF) in the Guntabeda and Kadamguda forest areas under Kalimela police limits on Sunday: Reports
BHUBANESWAR: Security forces have recovered a major cache of weapons, explosives and ammunition allegedly hidden by Maoists in the forests of Odisha's Malkangiri district, dealing another blow to the dwindling Left-wing extremist network in the region.
The recovery was made during a search operation conducted by the District Voluntary Force (DVF) in the Guntabeda and Kadamguda forest areas under Kalimela police limits on Sunday.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs and information provided by surrendered Maoists during sustained interrogation, the DVF launched the operation that led to the discovery of the concealed arms dump.
According to police, the recovered cache included two Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), two country-made pistols, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), a Claymore mine, under-barrel grenade launcher (BGL) launchers, grenades, and 37 varieties of explosive materials. Security personnel also recovered components believed to be used for manufacturing firearms and other explosive devices.
Investigators suspect the weapons and explosives had been buried underground in dense forest terrain for use in future attacks on security forces operating in the area.
The seizure is expected to further weaken the operational capabilities of Maoist cadres still active in isolated pockets of the district. Although the Odisha government has declared Malkangiri free from Maoist influence, security agencies believe remnants of the insurgent network continue to maintain hidden arms caches in remote forest areas.
Addressing a press conference, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police (SP) Vinodh Patil H said the latest recovery was the third major arms dump unearthed in the district this month.
“Earlier, two Maoist dumps were recovered on June 9 and June 15. Based on information obtained during the sustained interrogation of surrendered Maoists, a DVF team was dispatched to the Guntabeda and Kadamguda areas under Kalimela police limits. This morning, another dump was recovered containing two SLRs, two country-made pistols, an IED, a Claymore mine, BGL launchers, grenades and 37 other types of explosive materials,” he said.
The SP noted that while Malkangiri had already been declared Maoist-free by the March 31 deadline, security forces were continuing operations to trace hidden weapons stockpiles.
“Based on continuous interrogation, we are working to locate more concealed dumps. Three such dumps have been recovered in June alone. I congratulate the DVF team for this significant achievement,” Patil added.
Police said search operations would continue in the coming days as part of efforts to eliminate the remaining traces of Maoist infrastructure and prevent any attempt by extremist groups to regain a foothold in the district.
