In a significant breakthrough, Malkangiri Police have delivered a severe blow to Maoist activities by unearthing a massive cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives in a dense forest area along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.
Early this morning at around 5:45 AM, a joint team of Malkangiri District Voluntary Force (DVF), India Reserve Battalion (IRB), and other security personnel conducted a swift search operation based on specific inputs from recently surrendered Naxals. The team raided the forested regions of Silakota, Perwai, and Keskaguda under the Padia police station limits, bordering Dornapal in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.
The operation led to the discovery of a major Maoist dump containing a large quantity of weapons and explosive materials, including IED grenades, a pistol, a Sten carbine, and substantial amounts of detonators and other bomb-making components. Police suspect the cache was intended for targeting civilians and security forces in the region.
Speaking to the media, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Vinod Patil H confirmed the recoveries and described the operation as a major success. “This seizure has significantly weakened Maoist capabilities in the area,” Patil said. He also reiterated that Malkangiri district is now effectively a Maoist-free zone.
The search operation is still underway to locate any additional hidden materials or suspects. Officials believe the surrendered Naxals’ interrogation provided the critical breakthrough that led to this coordinated raid.
This latest development marks another step forward in the ongoing efforts to eradicate left-wing extremism from southern Odisha and maintain peace along the inter-state border.
