Malkangiri: A huge dump of explosives was recovered in the forest area near Sindhiput village under Andrahal gram panchayat in Odisha’s Malkangiri bordering Rangabayalu gram panchayat of Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharama Raju district on Thursday.
According to sources, a joint team of Special Operation Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) Koraput recovered 17 metre of cordex wire, 31 gelatin sticks, 11 electronic detonators, one electric wire bundle, two tiffin bombs, one pressure cooker bomb, a testing pin and Rs 70,000 in cash during an anti-Maoist operation in Hanumal, Sindhiput, Ondeipadar, Andrahal, Mudulipada under Machhkund police limits of Koraput and Mudulipada police limits of Malkangiri districts.
This comes close on the heels of more than 700 active Maoist supporters, including 300 militia members and many from Andhra Pradesh, surrendering before the security forces in Malkangiri district.
Many of those, who gave up arms, on September 17 were from Bhajaguda, Biseiguda, Khalguda, Patraput, Ondeipadar, Sambalpur and Sindhiput villages of Andrahal Gram Panchayat under Mudulipada police limits of Malkangiri district. Several others were from Padalput, Kusumput, Matamput and Jodigumma villages under Munchingput Police Station of Alluri Sitharam Raju District of Andhra Pradesh, a release from state police said.
All these villages are located on the Odisha-AP border and were once a stronghold of Maoists.