Explosives, ₹4L Cash Seized from Maoist Camp Post-Encounter in Odisha’s Nuapada

Nuapada: In a significant encounter, security forces in Odisha engaged in a firefight with Maoists in the Shivanarayanpur forest near the Chhattisgarh border, Nuapada district, amid ongoing Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

Acting on a tip-off about a Maoist camp, the Special Operation Group (SOG) launched a pre-dawn operation around 3 am on Tuesday.

Upon entering the deep forest under Komna police station jurisdiction, the SOG team encountered heavy gunfire from the Maoists, estimated to be a group of 20-30. The security personnel retaliated, resulting in an extended exchange of fire. SOG jawan Prakash Sai was injured and later hospitalized in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

At around 8 am, the Maoists attacked the advancing SOG team again, prompting a robust counteroffensive that forced the insurgents to flee. Subsequently, the security forces discovered the Maoist camp, seizing a country-made gun, 10 IEDs, household items, and Rs 4 lakh in Rs 2,000 notes.

Nuapada SP GR Raghavendra confirmed that the SOG, COBRA and CRPF units are continuing their search operations in the Sunabeda sanctuary to locate the escaped Maoists.