Angul/Sambalpur: Security personnel seized several Maoist articles during a joint combing operation in Udul area under Handapa police station limits on the bordering area of Angul and Sambalpur districts on Tuesday evening.
Briefing media persons at the district police headquarters here today, Sambalpur SP Ahileswar Singh said the District Voluntary Force (DVF) of Sambalpur unit and the CRPF were on a joint combing operation in the areas on Angul-Sambalpur border following information about the presence of some Maoists there.
“At about 6.30 PM, the security spotted some Maoists in the area and asked them to surrender. Suddenly, two Maoists fired at the security personnel, who retaliated immediately. After a brief exchange of fire, the Maoists fled the area. Soon after the firing stopped, security personnel began a search operation in the area and seized four live bullets, a radio, computer accessories, solar light panel, torch light, torch batteries, medicines, utensils, food and some Maoist literature,” Singh said.
The seized items, which included computer accessories, chairs and tables, suggest that some senior cadre Maoists of Sambalpur-Deogarh-Sundergarh (SDS) Division were present in the area, the SP said.
“Following the seizure of several items from the area, the DVF, CRPF and the SOG personnel are still carrying out the combing operation in the border areas,” Singh informed.
Claiming that Maoist activities in Sambalpur district have come down drastically in the last one-and-half year, he said as per the latest information, the Red Rebels have no permanent camp in the district.
“In the last 18 months, police had a face-off with the Maoists four times and apprehended two members. Besides, there is no instance of the Maoists staying permanently and conducting meetings in the district,” he added.
Talking about the movement of the Maoists, Singh said the Red Rebels had earlier used the Biramitrapur-Ulunda-Jujumura route. But their movement through Sambalpur district has stopped as the route is now closed.
“Now their movement is through Angul-Boudh-Kandhamal-Kalahandi route,” he pointed out.