Bhubaneswar: In a significant security breakthrough, joint forces in Malkangiri district unearthed a large cache of Maoist arms and explosives, preventing what officials say could have been a major attack on security personnel. The operation, led by the Border Security Force (BSF) in coordination with the District Voluntary Force (DVF), highlights ongoing efforts to dismantle insurgent networks in one of India’s most Naxal-affected regions.
Acting on credible intelligence, teams from the Company Operating Base (COB) Bodigetta and the 142 Battalion BSF, along with DVF Malkangiri, launched a targeted operation in remote forested terrain under Kalimela Police Station jurisdiction. The search focused on the Bejjangiwada Reserve Forest, specifically the area between Elkanur and Dayaltungi villages near Colonigurha in Kurmanur Gram Panchayat.
During the operation, security personnel discovered a Maoist arms and explosives dump containing a wide array of weaponry and IED components. The recovered items included: 2 Tiffin IEDs (3 liters each in steel containers), 1 improvised grenade, 24 gelatine sticks, 40 meters of Cordex wire, 1 No. 36 grenade, 22 electric detonators, 1 Bharmar (country-made firearm), 2 remotes, 1 electric motor, 3 cylinders (5 kg each), 15 iron plates, 345 grams of iron nuts and bolts, and 50 used 12-bore cartridge caps.
According to the BSF, these materials were stockpiled by Maoist groups for potential attacks on securitricy forces and police personnel. Recovering the cache not only prevents imminent threats but also disrupts insurgent strategies and lowers morale in areas where security agencies are steadily gaining dominance.
Malkangiri has long been a Maoist stronghold, with insurgents and their sympathizers exerting influence over remote villages. Forested and secluded locations have historically served as storage sites for arms, ammunition, and IED components. The BSF emphasized that such operations are critical for maintaining area control and safeguarding both security personnel and local residents.
Following this seizure, combing and search operations in the district are expected to intensify to eliminate remaining threats. Officials noted that growing pressure from joint forces is forcing Maoists to abandon caches and retreat from areas they once controlled, marking a steady weakening of insurgent influence.
This operation adds to a series of recent successes by security agencies in Odisha’s southern districts, reflecting a sustained and coordinated effort to curb Maoist activities, enhance security, and restore normalcy in affected regions.
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