Berhampur: Police on Tuesday seized firearms and Maoist belongings from Pushungia reserve forest in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, a day after security forces neutralised two rebels.
A .303 rifle with sling, magazine, a revolver and ammunition, revolver pouch with sling, a knife, walkie-talkies and spare battery, shaving blades, umbrella and a haversack were recovered during the search operation, according to Kandhamal SP Harish BC.
He further stated that anti-Maoist operations have been intensified in anticipation that more rebels could be hiding in deep forests. The Maoists are reportedly sneaking into the forests amid intensified operations in Chhattisgarh.
The SP noted that the family members of the deceased rebels, Manku with a Rs 4 lakh bounty and Chandan with a Rs 2 lakh bounty, are yet to claim their bodies. The police will wait two more days before disposing them of, he added.
Both were natives of neighbouring Chhattisgarh and members of Kalahandi-Kandhamal-Boudh-Nayagarh (KKBN) division of the banned CPI-Maoist outfit.
Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of the District Voluntary Force (DVF) and Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Odisha Police had launched an operation on Sunday in the dense forest area under the jurisdiction of Baliguda police limits in Kandhamal district and it continued for two consecutive days, leading to the killing of the two rebels.