Phulbani: As the national deadline to eliminate Maoist influence draws closer, security forces have significantly stepped up anti-Maoist operations across Odisha.
In Kandhamal district, intensified combing operations by district police and central armed forces have led to a major breakthrough.
According to reports, on Thursday morning, a joint team comprising the district police’s Special Operations Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a large-scale combing operation in the Ganggel forest area along the Kandhamal–Kalahandi border, a region known for Maoist activity.
During the operation, the joint forces detected and dismantled a Maoist camp deep inside the forest. A substantial cache of Maoist-used materials was recovered from the site, including 13 firearms, multiple walkie-talkies, solar panels, electrical wires, medicines, and several other logistical items used by the ultras for communication and survival in forest areas.
Security officials believe that the seized camp was being used as a temporary hideout and logistical base by Maoist cadres operating in the border region. Based on intelligence inputs, authorities suspect that several hardcore Maoists may still be hiding in the surrounding forest areas.
The combing operation is continuing in the region to track down any remaining Maoist elements and to ensure the area is fully sanitised. Security forces remain on high alert as anti-Maoist operations are further intensified in sensitive pockets of the district.
