Bhubaneswar: Security forces have uncovered a Maoist arms dump and seized a significant cache of arms and ammunition from a forest in the Swabhiman area of Odisha’s Malkangiri district.
On Sunday, personnel from the 177th BSF Battalion, during an intensive search operation in the forests of Arlipada and Tabar under the Jantree Panchayat in the Jadamba police jurisdiction of the Swabhiman region, discovered the Maoist dump.
The security forces recovered 56 gelignite sticks, 13 detonators, bundles of cordtex and electric wire, a battery, Maoist literature, and other materials from the site. Following this discovery, additional combing and search operations are ongoing in the region.
It is noteworthy that during a recent visit to Malkangiri, the SDG BSF Anti-Naxal Operation, the DGP of Odisha Police, and the IG of BSF Frontier HQs emphasised the need to neutralise Maoist activities and intensify anti-Naxal operations in the district.
This region has been a known Maoist stronghold for over a decade, with Maoist cadres and their sympathisers using the area for shelter and sustenance. Historically, these groups have planted IEDs, stored bomb-making materials, and hidden arms in isolated locations to target security forces and police personnel operating in the area.
The BSF is actively conducting operations in Malkangiri district, maintaining a strong presence in the area and enhancing the sense of security among local residents. After apprehending a Maoist dump , a major potential Naxal incident in the area has been averted. The recovery of the Maoist dump is also likely to demoralise remaining Maoist sympathisers, while encouraging security forces to intensify their efforts, according to a statement from the BSF on Monday.
It is worth noting that on November 7, Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania visited Malkangiri district. Accompanied by DIG Operations Akhileshwar Singh and DIG (SIW) Kanwar Vishal Singh, DGP Khurania reviewed ongoing anti-Maoist operations in the district, in line with a target set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to eliminate Maoist presence nationwide by March 2026.
DGP Khurania also visited the Gurasetu BSF camp in the Swabhiman area of the district. He conducted a review meeting with senior officers from the police and BSF, emphasising that eliminating Maoist influence is his primary goal. Khurania stated that efforts are underway to locate and retrieve weapons hidden by Maoists across various sites, underscoring the commitment to securing peace and safety for the people in the area.
The Odisha Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, is intensifying efforts to combat Maoist threats.
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