Maoist camp destroyed, explosives seized

Malkangiri: A Maoist camp was destroyed and explosive substances and materials used for landmines and claymore mines were seized by security personnel engaged in anti-Maoist operation in Malkangiri district on Friday, police said.

On a tip off, a team of BSF, Special Operation Group (SOG) of Odisha and district voluntary force (DVF) jointly conducted a combing operation and raided a Maoist camp in Niliguda forest under Padia area and stumbled upon the materials, police said.

Apparently getting information about combing operation in the area in advance, the Maoists had fled the camp leaving all the materials being used by them.

The seized materials included 11 kg powder used for preparation of landmines or claymore mines, 25 gelatin sticks, 10 pieces of electronic detonators, 200 metres of wire, a large number of fatigues, utensils and Maoist literatures, police said.

Meanwhile, the seizure in Padia area assumed significance as the Maoists had blown up the local police outpost over a year ago. The state government had recently converted the police-out post at Padia into a full fledged police station.