Nuapada: Local police with the help of security forces in a joint operation busted a Maoist camp in Nuapada district and recovered explosives and several other articles used by the rebels, police said Wednesday.
Acting on a tip-off about the movement of Maoist cadres in Patdhara Reserve Forest area in the district, Nuapada SP launched a massive combing operation February 1. The security forces consisting of six SOG teams searched the area extensively and February 3, they came across a Maoist camp belonging to Mainpur-Nuapada Division in the forest area near Khatfar village under Boden police limits.
Realising the presence of security forces, the Maoists opened fire at the search team. Retaliating back, the police also fired back.
There was heavy exchange of fire between the police and ultras after which the Maoists fled the spot and went into deep forest. During search, five tiffin bombs, three UPS batteries, 2 kg gun powder, electrical wires, uniforms, red flag and many other articles were seized from the spot.
It appears that a training camp was organised by the CPI (Maoist) at the location which was raided by the security forces, police sources said.
“The police had received information about the presence of ultras in the area following which a search operation was launched and the camp was busted. There was an exchange of fire between the police and Maoists. However, so far no casualties have been reported from both the sides,” the SP said.
The SP did not clarify whether the police had received specific information on the presence of any top Maoist leader at the camp.
“Combing operation is still on. The security forces have recovered explosives and many daily use materials of the ultras from the camp,” the SP added. The police said a group of Maoists was present and was taking training and the presence of some top Maoist leaders cannot be ruled out.
“The ultras managed to escape by taking advantage of the terrain and dense forest,” a police official said. A day back, opposing low quality road construction work, a group of armed Maoists ransacked a construction camp and torched several vehicles engaged in the construction work near Desughati on Belghar-Jhiripani road under Belghar police limits in Baliguda sub-division of Kandhamal district late Monday night.
Among the torched vehicles were one Haiwa, two JCB machines, one mixer machine, a trailer and a tractor.
According to reports, around 15-20 Maoists barged into the camp, thrashed its employees and set vehicles on fire, which were used for construction of Belghar-Jhiripani road.
Before fleeing the place, the extremists left a poster at the spot in which they have warned of stopping the road construction alleging that it will not benefit the tribals and is being constructed to loot minerals.
PNN