Phulbani: In a significant success for anti-Maoist operations, security forces recovered a substantial cache of explosives from the Gumma forest area in Kandhamal district on Thursday.
The recovery was made during a search operation launched on the directions of Kandhamal SP Harisha B.C, following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of hidden explosives in the region. Acting swiftly, a team comprising personnel from the District Voluntary Force (DVF) and a bomb disposal squad began combing the forest under the jurisdiction of Kotgarh police limits.
Before initiating the excavation, the bomb squad carried out a detailed sanitisation of the site to eliminate the risk of pressure bombs or booby traps. Upon digging at a targeted spot within the dense forest terrain, the team unearthed 600 detonators and a remote-control device, police sources confirmed.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the explosives may have been stockpiled by Maoist groups for use against security forces operating in the region. The recovery comes amid heightened vigilance in Kandhamal, a district known for sporadic Maoist activity.
Search operations are continuing in nearby forested zones to check for additional hidden stockpiles or suspicious movements.
Security personnel have stepped up surveillance and patrols in the area in light of the discovery.
