Bhubaneswar, November 16: Malkangiri Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) have uncovered a vast cache of explosives and weapons hidden inside a cave during a joint anti-Maoist operation. The recovery was made in the Dulagundi forest area under the Kalimela Police Station jurisdiction.

While conducting routine combing operations through the dense forests, the security forces acted on reliable intelligence regarding the presence of Maoist supplies concealed in a hillside cave. After approaching the site with extreme caution, the team successfully recovered the explosives without any confrontation.

The seized items include firearms, a substantial amount of live ammunition, gelatin sticks, landmine-like explosive devices, and other materials associated with Maoist operations.

Preliminary investigations say that the explosives could have been stored by Maoists several months ago, potentially for use in attacks on security personnel, including police and BSF forces. Authorities believe that this discovery is linked to a broader plan to target security patrols operating in the area.

Although the Maoist presence in Malkangiri district has significantly diminished over recent years, the insurgency remains active in neighboring states like Chhattisgarh, making border regions highly susceptible to infiltration and sporadic militant activities.