In a significant breakthrough against Maoist insurgency, Nuapada police have successfully dismantled a suspected Maoist camp hidden in the dense forests near Bhainsamundi village.
Acting on reliable intelligence regarding the movement of CPI (Maoist) cadres, the Superintendent of Police for Nuapada initiated a Search and Destroy Operation (SADO) on the night of October 30, 2024. The operation involved two assault teams from the elite Special Operations Group (SOG), which conducted a coordinated search across the Patdhara and Sunabeda Reserve Forests.
On November 1, 2024, one of the SOG teams, while combing the forested area, identified a suspected Maoist camp linked to the DGN Divisional Committee of the CPI (Maoist). The camp, situated near Bhainsamundi (Bahadurpani) village, yielded a substantial cache of explosive materials and operational equipment, according to the PRO of Odisha Police.
“Items recovered included approximately 500 electric detonators, five reels of safety fuse, five improvised IED switches, two decomposed SBGL rounds, one decomposed gelatin stick, and a collection of Naxalite literature. The findings suggest that the camp served as a temporary hideout for strategic operations and the storage of explosives,” he added.
In response to the discovery, another SOG assault team was deployed later that day to intensify the search and ensure complete security in the area. Authorities are determined to prevent any regrouping of Maoist forces and have emphasised the importance of continued vigilance and strategic operations.
This operation follows another successful anti-Maoist initiative in Kandhamal district on October 25, 2024. During that encounter, one senior Maoist cadre, reportedly a key member of the Kandhamal-Kalahandi-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division, was killed during an exchange of fire with SOG teams. The incident, which occurred around 9 a.m., resulted in the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, indicating the presence of high-ranking operatives in the region.
The Odisha Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, is intensifying efforts to combat Maoist threats. At a recent meeting of Left Wing Extremism-affected states, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on October 7, Majhi requested additional support, including 12 more companies of security forces and a helicopter, to strengthen anti-Maoist operations.
