Was a Maoist Plot Foiled in Odisha? Explosives Cache Discovered in Kandhamal Forest Sweep

Bhubaneswar, July 19 (NationPress) In a significant advancement for anti-Maoist efforts in Odisha, security personnel unearthed a large stockpile of explosives and tactical gear during a search operation in Kandhamal district.

Based on precise intelligence, a unit from the District Voluntary Force (DVF) located the Maoist cache deep within the Guma Reserved Forest near Sinahibali village, under the jurisdiction of the Belgarh Police Station, according to police reports.

The haul comprises 564 electrical detonators, 77 non-electrical detonators, four remote controls, two electrical sensors, two battery inputs, one electrical switch, a steel drum with a cover, and a steel tiffin carrier.

Authorities suspect that these materials were meant for ambushes aimed at security forces engaged in patrol and combing missions in the area.

Kandhamal Superintendent of Police Harish B.C. confirmed that the operation was executed with utmost caution, involving a bomb disposal squad that first cleared the area of potential booby traps and pressure bombs before revealing the dump.

The dense forests of Kandhamal, recognized for their strategic importance to Maoist insurgents, have historically posed challenges for law enforcement.

However, recent operations have ramped up surveillance and combing activities, resulting in a series of successful recoveries.

This latest find comes after a series of anti-Maoist operations in the region.

On June 30, two senior Maoist leaders from Chhattisgarh were eliminated in a confrontation in Pushungia forest under Baliguda police jurisdiction, and a separate operation earlier this month led to the recovery of rifles, revolvers, cartridges, and communication devices from a Maoist camp.

Sources within the security establishment indicate that the recovered detonators and remote devices were likely part of a larger scheme to disrupt ongoing counter-insurgency efforts.

With Maoist activities reportedly spilling over from Chhattisgarh into Odisha’s forests, Kandhamal has emerged as a key area for coordinated operations aimed at dismantling insurgent infrastructure.

Authorities have initiated a follow-up investigation to trace the source of the explosives and identify any remaining Maoist operatives in the area.

The success of the DVF team highlights the increasing effectiveness of Odisha’s anti-Naxal strategy, which combines intelligence-driven operations with tactical precision. As combing operations persist, officials remain alert for further threats in the region.