Odisha: Security forces recover huge cache of arms, ammunition from Maoists hideouts

KORAPUT: In a major breakthrough, a joint team of DVF and SOG recovered huge cache of arms, ammunition and other articles belonging to the Maoists from Red hideouts and dumps in the Swabhiman anchal under Chitrakonda block in Malkangiri district on Thursday.
Police said the massive recovery of Maoists belongings was followed by an exchange of fire in the Goigunda forest between a team of DVF and SOG led by SP (Malkangiri) Hrisikesh Khilari and a group of Maoists on January 15.
"Post-exchange of fire, we had seized several Maoist documents and electronic devices and based on the information received from the seized items, an intense search and area dominance exercises was launched in the area which resulted in the recoveries of the Maoists hideouts and dumps in the Swabhiman anchal," the SP said.
According to police, the seized items include an INSAS light machine gun, 3 INSAS rifles, 3 carbine sten guns, and SLR rifle, a .303 rifle, a pistol, 202 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, 59 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, 42 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, 4 LMG magazines, 8 INSAS magazines, 2 SLR magazines, 6 carbine magazines, a .303 magazine, 2 VHF set-cum-scanner, an optical sight, 100 gram gun powder and five bundles of codex wires among others from the Maoist hideouts and dumps.
It is suspected that the arms and ammunition could be of the police that was looted and dumped by the Maoists for their future use.
"The Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of the banned outfit might have dumped the arms to retrieve it in future. The recovered arms are suspected to have been looted from the police and investigation is on to ascertain it,” said Odisha DGP Abhay.
According to the DGP, prior to the exchange of fire of January 15, an extensive composite operation was carried out in the Swabhiman anchal jointly by Odisha police, CoBRA, BSF and Andhra Pradesh police to provide security to cover to the construction of roads in the area which was opposed by the Maoists.
"Road connectivity ultimately helps in penetrating development in the area and mainstreaming the people,” the DGP said.
"We have intensified out search and area dominance exercises in the Swabhiman anchal and possibility of recovering more Maoist belongings and arms can’t be ruled out,” he added.