Huge cache of arms and ammunition seized in anti Maoist operation in Odisha

Bhubaneswar, Feb 7: The teams from Odisha Police, BSF, CoBRA and Andhra Police have seized huge cache of arms and ammunitions in a joint counter Maoist operation in the Swabhiman Anchal (cut-off area) of Malkangiri district. The seized arms and ammunitions included an Insaas light machine gun, three Insaas rifles, three carbines, one pistol, one SLR rifle and one.303 rifle. Besides more than 300 rounds of live bullets have also been seized in the joint operation. Police DG Abhay said that the joint operation was started in January. “Immediately after this composite operation there was an exchange of fire between a team led by S.P and comprising of SOG and DVF commandoes of Odisha Police and the Maoists at Goiguda village on January 15.  On the basis of specific information recovered from Maoists documents and electronic devices seized post this exchange of fire, SOG and DVF teams of Odisha Police had launched intense search and area domination exercises resulting in uncovering of the major Maoist hideouts and dumps in Swabhiman Anchal and adjoining areas. This had led to recovery and seizure of huge quantity of Maoists arms, ammunitions, equipments and other articles,” said Abhay. {"align":"center","id":25999,"sizeSlug":"large"} It is suspected that these arms and ammunitions could have been looted from the police in the past. “We suspect that the cache of arms was hidden by the Maoists of Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (ABSZC).  In the wake of recovery, police have intensified combing and area domination exercises in the region in a bid to recover more such Naxal dumps if any,” added the DG.