Odisha News / Security Forces Unearth Maoist Arms Dump in Malkangiri Forests

Malkangiri, Jul 25: Security forces unearthed a Maoist arms dump during a joint operation in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, recovering a substantial cache of explosives and weapons, police said on Saturday.

Acting on intelligence inputs, a combined team of the Border Security Force (BSF) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) launched a combing operation on July 24 in the forested and hilly terrain between Arapadar and Ghusumpadar villages under Jodambo police limits. The search led to the discovery of a concealed Maoist dump containing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), gelatin sticks, detonators, and other materials.

Officials said the recovery of three IEDs, 32 gelatin sticks, 11 detonators, 500 grams of gunpowder, three metres of codex wire, a solar panel battery, a radio set, and electric wires. The explosives were suspected to have been buried underground to evade detection and were likely intended for targeting security personnel or disrupting operations in the region.

The BSF said the seizure strengthens security arrangements along the Odisha–Chhattisgarh border, an area historically vulnerable to Maoist activity. “Sustained operations in Malkangiri, once considered a Maoist stronghold, are increasingly establishing operational dominance by security forces to ensure lasting peace,” a police statement noted.

The recovered explosives were safely defused and transported for forensic examination. Security officials believe more such dumps may exist in the area, underscoring the need for continued vigilance.

The operation forms part of intensified anti-Maoist measures in Malkangiri, where forces have stepped up surveillance and patrols to dismantle insurgent infrastructure. The discovery is being viewed as a preventive success, potentially averting attacks on security personnel and civilians.

Local communities have welcomed the development, with officials stressing that such recoveries not only neutralize immediate threats but also reinforce public confidence in the state’s commitment to law and order.