Arms, Maoist Articles Recovered In Odisha’s Kandhamal

Phulbani: Security personnel have seized several arms, ammunition and Maoist articles inside a forest in Kandhamal district, Kandhamal SP Vinit Agarwal said on Tuesday.

The SP said based on a tip-off, a joint team of the Special Operation Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) personnel had launched a combing operation inside the forest near Kumbhaharu village in Gochhapada police limits on June 20 morning.

“The combing operation contined till the next morning (June 21). During the operation, Maoists fired at the security personnel. At this, the security personnel took cover and asked the attackers to surrender. But as the ultras continued firing, the security personnel retaliated. After an hour-long exchange of fire, the Maoists fled the area by taking the benefit of dense forest and difficult terrain,” the SP said.

He said the security personnel later resumed the search operation and recovered one .303 rifle, three bullets, one HD cartridge one 12 Bore country-made gun, three INSAS rifles, three INSAS magazines, seven electric detonators and several Maoist articles from a camp.

“The search operation has been intensified to track the left-wing extremists, the SP added.