Maoist arms dump unearthed in Kandhamal forest, second seizure in a week

Berhampur: Security forces have seized a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives from a Maoist dump in forest areas under Kotagarh police station limits in Kandhamal district, the second such recovery in the district in a week, police said on Wednesday.Acting on inputs, the Special Operation Group and District Voluntary Force conducted a multi-point operation on Tuesday in Sitagurha, Ganjugurha, Kutibarhi, Gudrikya and Lanjam areas under Kotagarh, Baliguda and Tumudibandha police station limits.“During the search, personnel unearthed the Maoist dump,” said Kandhamal SP Ramendra Prasad.Police recovered a .303 rifle, two 12-bore guns, a 8mm gun, two single-shot guns, ammunition and cartridges, 10 metres of cordex, five electric detonators and other items, including civil clothes, slippers, a plastic drum and medicine kits, he said.The SP said security forces followed precautionary measures and a bomb disposal squad carried out a systematic search in view of possible IEDs. “The recovered arms, ammunition and explosive materials belonged to the Maoists,” he said.On June 10, police had unearthed another Maoist dump in Baliguda police station limits and seized firearms and other materials.Kandhamal had been assigned a target to be Maoist-free by March 31, 2026, as per directives of Union home minister Amit Shah, police said, adding that joint combing and search operations by SOG, DVF, CRPF and BSF were continuing in suspected areas to prevent any resurgence.Police said 10 Maoists were killed in encounters in the district between Jan 2025 and March 2026, while 24 surrendered during the same period.