Maoist Gun Factory Busted,Huge Volume of Arms Seized
BHUBANESWAR: A joint team of Special Operation Group (SOG) and District Voluntary Force (DVF) ran down a gun-making factory by the Left Wing extremists in Dulagunda under Kalimela police limits of Malkangiri early on Thursday.
Arms, ammunition, explosives and huge volume of raw materials used in making splinters and a lathe unit for manufacturing barrels used in country guns were seized during the operation.
The total haul included seven live grenades, four single barrel muzzle loading rifles, motor, weighing machine, recoil springs for use in manufacturing of guns, huge quantity of tools for use in manufacturing of guns, explosives and splinter, gelatine, cortex and electric wire, explosive powder, detonators, tiffin cases and batteries were seized.
Besides, four tiffin bombs each weighing 5 kg, four pressure mines and Maoist uniforms and literature were also recovered. The security forces are trying to ascertain if the grenades were manufactured at the unit or looted by the ultras from the police.
Under supervision of Malkangiri SP Mitrabhanu Satpathy, the intelligence-based operation was launched in Tekguda forests area under Kalimela police limits. During the operation in Dulagunda, the security forces were informed about presence of a mobile arms and explosive manufacturing unit in the adjacent forest.
The recovery of the unit is considered a major achievement for State Police as it would hit the local arms supply of the Maoists. Sources said that the unit was being run by the technical unit of the Andhra Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC), led by Ram Krishna, known as RK.
The technical team of AOBSZC and Kalimela Area Committee was being led by Damodar alias Bellam Narayan Swamy, a Special Zonal Committee member and Mettur Joga Rao, known as Tech Shankar. Shankar is a Divisional Committee Member.
“The two were running the arms and explosive manufacturing unit to intensify violent activities in Malkangiri district, particularly in Kalimela and Podia axis as a retaliatory move to the recent mass surrender of cadre Maoists, militias, village committee members and pro-Maoist villagers from Podia and Kalimela area,” said a senior officer.
The two have been trying to make efforts to recruit new cadres and equip them with firearms and explosives through the mobile unit to counter Malkangiri Police.
During the operation, the Maoists managed to escape taking advantage of the forest cover and heavy showers.