Maoist camp busted in Odisha’s Malkangiri, security forces seize massive arms dump, foil major attack

In a significant breakthrough, security forces in Malkangiri district have unearthed a large Maoist arms and explosives dump during a joint search operation, averting what police said could have been a major attack on security personnel.

According to reports, the Border Security Force (BSF) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) of Odisha Police units carried out an operation in the Dayalatang and Elkanur forests under Kalimela block’s Bejangwada reserve forest.

During the search, the forces recovered a hidden Maoist stockpile containing explosives and equipment used to assemble improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The cache included steel tiffins meant for tiffin bombs, gelatin sticks, codex wires, 36 grenades, firearms, detonators, remote controls, motors, gas cylinders, and iron plates. Police confirmed that the materials were intended for landmine and IED fabrication, likely to target patrolling teams. The explosives were recovered and defused with extreme caution.

“Timely detection and swift action by our personnel prevented a potential large-scale incident,” a senior police officer said, noting that Maoist cadres had concealed the cache to launch attacks on security forces.

Maoist Influence Weakening In Malkangiri

Officials added that continued combing operations in the region have disrupted Maoist attempts to regroup or expand their base.

Over the past year, security forces have steadily increased their presence in Malkangiri’s interior areas, forcing Maoist cadres to abandon camps, surrender, or retreat deeper into forests.

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Villagers Face Continued Coercion Near Border

Even as operations intensify in Malkangiri, reports from the Odisha-Jharkhand border highlight ongoing hardships faced by villagers.

An OTV ground report from Topadhi village revealed that Maoists regularly enter the settlement, forcing youths into recruitment and compelling residents to procure food grains and medicines. Many families have fled in fear, leaving behind farmland and homes.

CRPF units have now been deployed in Topadhi to monitor Maoist activity and reassure locals.
Topadhi’s proximity to Tapkoi in Jharkhand, a known Maoist hub, has compounded the problem. Security agencies believe cadres frequently cross into Odisha from there, sustaining pressure on vulnerable border settlements.