Cache of arms and explosives recovered by Odisha Police from Rayagadha forest
Bhubaneswar : In a major boost to Odisha’s ongoing anti-Maoist campaign, security forces have recovered substantial quantities of arms, ammunition, explosives and Maoist-related materials from three separate locations across Rayagada, Kandhamal and Malkangiri districts within a span of one week. The successive recoveries have dealt a significant blow to the remaining Maoist infrastructure in the state and highlighted the effectiveness of intelligence-driven counter-insurgency operations.
The latest breakthrough came in Rayagada district, where security personnel unearthed a concealed Maoist dump from the Dhepaguda Reserve Forest under Ambadala police station limits. The operation was launched based on intelligence gathered during the interrogation of surrendered Maoist cadres and is being viewed as another major success in the state’s efforts to eliminate residual Maoist networks.
According to police officials, personnel of the District Voluntary Force (DVF) and the Special Operations Group (SOG) carried out a coordinated combing and search operation on June 13 in the forest areas under the Jagdalpur Outpost jurisdiction. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the security teams searched the dense forest terrain and successfully located a concealed Maoist dump.
Given the possibility of explosive hazards, the District Bomb Disposal Squad was deployed before the search operation commenced. The squad conducted a detailed sanitisation exercise and thoroughly inspected the area to detect any Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) or hidden explosives that could pose a threat to security personnel.
During the operation, security forces recovered a substantial quantity of materials believed to have been stored by Maoist cadres for operational purposes. The seizure included one .303 rifle, 37 rounds of live .303 ammunition, one .303 magazine, charger clips, pouches, approximately eight metres of cordex wire, around 50 grams of gunpowder and five bundles of cordex. Police also recovered ten empty 12-bore cartridges and other explosive-related materials.
Apart from weapons and ammunition, Maoist literature, propaganda documents, umbrellas, blankets, slippers and various daily-use articles were seized from the site, indicating that the location had been functioning as a storage and support base for Maoist cadres operating in the region.
Addressing a press conference, Rayagada Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad said the operation was made possible through valuable intelligence gathered from surrendered Maoist cadres.
He informed that between January 2025 and March 31, 2026, several Maoists surrendered before Odisha Police in Rayagada district. Among them were 16 hardcore Maoists, including senior leaders and State Committee members Indu and Nikhil.
According to the SP, the surrendered cadres are being jointly interrogated by multiple agencies, and the information provided by them has significantly strengthened intelligence-based operations in the district.
“The disclosures made by surrendered Maoists, coupled with other intelligence inputs, have helped security forces identify Maoist hideouts, logistical networks and support bases operating in remote forest areas,” he said.
The Rayagada recovery marks the third major Maoist-related seizure in Odisha within a week. Earlier, security forces recovered Maoist weapons and explosives in Malkangiri and Kandhamal districts, indicating that intelligence-led operations are continuing to uncover hidden insurgent infrastructure despite significant declines in Maoist activity.
Officials believe these recoveries reflect the sustained impact of anti-Maoist operations and the growing flow of actionable intelligence from surrendered cadres.
On June 11, a joint operation by the Special Operations Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) led to the discovery of a concealed Maoist dump in the dense forests near Tengeri village under Baliguda police station limits in Kandhamal district.
Acting on intelligence gathered from surrendered Maoists, nine SOG teams and one DVF team conducted extensive searches across forested areas, including Gangapadar, Kodamaha, Pajimaha, Tengeri and Balimaha.
During the operation, security personnel recovered one Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), two SBGL guns, one country-made firearm, one SBGL grenade, an SLR magazine, 30 detonators, electric wires, explosive materials and various logistical supplies. Food items, clothing, slippers, ration materials and personal belongings believed to have been used by Maoist cadres were also seized.
Just days before the Kandhamal operation, security forces recovered one of the largest Maoist arms caches in recent months during a joint operation in Malkangiri district.
Acting on intelligence inputs, personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) conducted extensive searches in the forest areas of Kerimitia and Katuapadar under Mathili police station limits near the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.
The operation led to the seizure of 32 categories of Maoist-related materials, including firearms, rifles, improvised weapons, tiffin bombs, grenades, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), AK-47 magazines, Light Machine Gun (LMG) ammunition, detonators and other explosive materials. Maoist propaganda literature, communication materials and daily-use articles were also recovered.
Following the recent recoveries, security forces have intensified anti-Maoist operations across vulnerable forest belts in southern Odisha. Personnel of the SOG, DVF, BSF and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are continuing regular combing, area domination and intelligence-based operations to detect any remaining Maoist presence.
Officials believe the successive recoveries have significantly weakened Maoist logistical capabilities and disrupted potential plans for future insurgent activities. They emphasized that despite several districts being declared Maoist-free, search operations will continue until all hidden weapons dumps and support networks are dismantled.
The three recoveries within a week underscore the determination of Odisha’s security forces to eradicate the remaining traces of Maoist infrastructure and ensure lasting peace, security and development in the state’s previously affected regions.
