Koraput: A joint team of the District Voluntary Force and Border Security Force (BSF) unearthed a large cache of arms, explosives and other materials from a Maoist dump in the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border region of Malkangiri district during an early morning operation on Tuesday.Police said the operation was launched based on intel gathered during the interrogation of surrendered Maoists. Acting on the inputs, security personnel carried out an intensive search in the forested areas of Kirmitti and Katuapadar under Mathili police station limits, bordering Durva police station in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.Malkangiri superintendent of police Vinod Patil said the concealed dump was detected around 5.30 am during the combing operation. The recovered materials are suspected to belong to cadres of the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), a major Maoist formation operating in the region.The seizure included an INSAS light machine gun, two INSAS rifles, three improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a grenade, an AK magazine, 18 electric detonators, wireless remote switches, communication equipment and solar-powered devices. Security forces also recovered 3.5 kg of gunpowder, 20 kg of splinters, detonator caps, codex wire, rechargeable batteries, medical supplies, camping equipment and Maoist literature.“This is a major jolt to the subversive activities of Maoists in the region. The recovered explosives and other materials were suspected to have been intended for use against innocent civilians and security forces,” the SP said.Police suspect the arms and explosives were stockpiled by AOBSZC cadres for future attacks and other unlawful activities. Following the recovery, security forces intensified combing and search operations in the surrounding forest areas to trace any remaining Maoist presence and prevent potential threats.“Further search operations are continuing in the area to ensure that any remaining Maoist infrastructure is detected and neutralised,” Patil said.
