Bhubaneswar: Acting on specific intelligence inputs, Kandhamal Police conducted a large-scale multi-party search operation across remote forest areas and recovered a substantial cache of Maoist arms, ammunition, explosives, and logistical supplies from a concealed dump.
The operation was launched on June 16, 2026, targeting the Sitagurha, Ganjugurha, Kutibarhi, Gudrikya, and Lanjam areas under Kotagarh, Baliguda, and Tumudibandha Police Stations. It involved two teams of the Special Operations Group (SOG) and one team of the District Voluntary Force (DVF).
During the intensive combing, police teams located concealed Maoist dump sites within the jurisdiction of Kotagarh Police Station. The Bomb Disposal Squad was immediately deployed and carried out a systematic search of the area after taking all necessary safety precautions to rule out the presence of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The search resulted in the successful recovery of one .303 rifle, two 12-bore guns, two single-shot guns, one 8 mm gun with wooden butt, one .303 magazine, 18 rounds of .303 ammunition, 10 rounds of 12-bore cartridges, 35 rounds of 8 mm ammunition, 10 metres of codex wire, five electric detonators, along with various articles of daily use and field equipment used by Maoist cadres.
Police have confirmed that the recovered weapons, explosives, and other incriminating materials belonged to Maoist cadres.
Notably, Kandhamal district had achieved its target of becoming completely Naxal-free by March 31, 2026, as per the national anti-Naxal strategy. However, security forces continue to locate and clear old concealed dumps left behind by Maoists in remote forest areas.
Regular area domination and combing operations are being jointly conducted by SOG, DVF, CRPF, and BSF personnel to uncover hidden caches, prevent any possible resurgence of Maoist activity, and maintain lasting peace in the region.
