Bhubaneswar: In a major blow to Maoist insurgents, security forces have uncovered a Maoist hideout and seized a large cache of explosives near Kanagun village in Odisha’s Boudh district. The operation represents a significant breakthrough in the region's ongoing crackdown on left-wing extremism.
About The Search Operation
Acting on precise intelligence, a joint team comprising personnel from the Special Operations Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF), and a bomb disposal squad launched a search operation early Saturday morning in the Matakupa protected forest under the jurisdiction of Manmunda police station.
During the raid, security personnel recovered a large quantity of explosives and other materials intended for violent attacks. Items seized included 36 detonators, 33 gelatin sticks, Maoist uniforms, and a substantial amount of Maoist propaganda literature. A senior police official hailed the seizure as a major success, noting that the recovered explosives could have been used to target civilians, security forces, or critical infrastructure.
While no Maoist operatives were apprehended during the operation, officials stressed that dismantling the hideout and confiscating the explosives had dealt a significant blow to Maoist operational capabilities in the area. Investigators also expect the seized propaganda materials to offer crucial insights into Maoist plans and activities.
Police sources said search operations have been intensified in the surrounding forest areas to prevent any attempts by Maoists to regroup.
This operation follows a similar success earlier this month, when security forces dismantled a Maoist camp deep inside the Saranda forest along Odisha’s border with Jharkhand. Authorities believe these operations are part of a broader, coordinated strategy to weaken Maoist networks operating along the Odisha-Jharkhand border and restore stability in these sensitive regions.
Senior officials have commended the joint team's efforts and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to eradicating Maoist influence from Odisha’s tribal and forested areas.
