Malkangiri: In a significant breakthrough against Left Wing Extremism, security forces recovered a major Maoist arms and explosives dump from a forested area along the Odisha–Chhattisgarh border in Malkangiri district on Monday.
Acting on information obtained during the interrogation of surrendered Maoists, a District Voluntary Force (DVF) team launched an intensive search operation in the forests of Silakota, Perwai and Keskaguda villages under Podia police station limits. The operation, conducted in the early hours of June 15, led to the discovery of the hidden cache at around 5.45 a.m.
The recovered materials included three sten carbines, a country-made pistol, an SBML gun, a broken 12-bore gun, four improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including a six-kilogram IED, and 20 UBGL grenades. Security personnel also seized 53 rounds of 12-bore ammunition, 18 SBML cells, a sniper telescope, electrical wires, batteries, tools and several items suspected to have been used for the fabrication and maintenance of explosive devices.
Police suspect the recovered weapons, explosives and other incriminating materials belonged to cadres of the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of the CPI (Maoist). Officials said the cache was likely intended for use in attacks targeting civilians and security forces operating in the region.
The recovery comes amid sustained anti-Maoist operations in the district. According to police, Malkangiri was declared Naxal-free by March 31, 2026, in line with the target set by the Union Home Ministry. Between January 2025 and March 2026, two Maoists were arrested and 23 cadres surrendered before the police in the district.
Police said regular combing and search operations are being carried out jointly by the Special Operations Group (SOG), DVF and Border Security Force (BSF) to detect and recover arms, explosives and other materials concealed by Maoists, with the aim of preventing any resurgence of extremist activities in the region.
The seized materials have been taken into custody and further investigation is underway.
