Bhubaneswar: In a significant boost to anti-Maoist efforts, the District Voluntary Force (DVF) of Malkangiri Police recovered a substantial cache of arms, explosives, communication equipment, and other materials from a hidden Maoist dump in the dense forests near the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border on Sunday.
The operation was launched based on specific intelligence from surrendered Maoist cadres. Police conducted an intensive search in the forest areas of Gunthabada and Kadamguda under the Kalimela police station limits, bordering Motugudem and Donkarai areas in Andhra Pradesh’s ASR district. The dump was recovered around 6:30 am.
Items seized include two Self-Loading Rifles (SLRs), two country-made pistols, one US-made pistol (without magazine), a .303 barrel, two IEDs (weighing 2 kg and 5 kg), one claymore mine, four BGL cells, five cartridges, and seven walkie-talkies. Electronic devices such as 45 pen drives, a hard disk, a keyboard, batteries, chargers, a medicine kit, and materials suspected for manufacturing explosives were also recovered.
Police believe that the cache belonged to cadres of the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) and was likely stockpiled to target both security forces and civilians in the region.
This latest success comes as Malkangiri has been declared Maoist-free as of March 31, 2026, aligning with the Union Home Minister’s target. Between January 2025 and March 2026, two Maoists were arrested and 23 surrendered in the district. Regular combing and search operations by the Special Operations Group (SOG) and DVF teams will continue to unearth hidden caches and prevent any resurgence of Maoist activities, police added.
This marks the third major Maoist dump recovered in Malkangiri this month alone, highlighting intensified combing operations. On June 9, security forces recovered a large cache from forests under Mathili police limits near the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border (Kirmitti and Katuapadar areas). Items included an INSAS LMG, two INSAS rifles, IEDs, grenades, detonators, medical supplies, and other equipment.
On June 15, a large Maoist arms and explosives dump, including three sten carbines, an SBML gun, a pistol, multiple IEDs, UBGL grenades, ammunition, a sniper telescope, solar panels, and explosive manufacturing tools, was also unearthed following an intensive search operation in the forests of Silakota, Perwai and Keskaguda under Podia police limits.
These operations, often tipped off by surrendered Maoists, have dealt repeated blows to remaining Maoist logistics networks. Similar recoveries have also been reported in Kandhamal and Koraput in recent weeks.