Malkangiri: Security forces on Tuesday seized a large cache of arms and explosives suspected to belong to Maoists during a combing operation in forest areas under Mathili police limits in Malkangiri district.

Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of the District Voluntary Force (DVF) and the Border Security Force (BSF) launched an operation in the forests of Kirmiti and Katuapadar villages and recovered a significant quantity of arms and ammunition.

According to officials, the seized items include one INSAS light machine gun (LMG), two INSAS rifles, two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) weighing 1 kg each (tiffin bombs), one 8-kg IED, a grenade, 18 detonators, an AK-series magazine, a wireless remote switch, a walkie-talkie, a solar panel, electric wires, and other materials.

Additional items recovered from the site include a route device, printer cartridges, disposable syringes, bundles of gauze and cotton, a polythene tent, empty detonator caps, crackers, gunpowder, cordex wires, splinters, saline bottles, pipes, and other equipment.

Preliminary probe suggests the materials likely belonged to cadres of the Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of the Maoists. Police suspect the cache was intended for use in attacks on civilians and security personnel, as well as for other subversive activities.

Further investigation is underway.