Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Pottangi/Koraput, Nov 2:

Border Security Force (BSF) jawans have busted a gun manufacturing unit of Maoists during combing operations in Turukpadu-Motawalesa reserve forest area near Siribeda village in Ralegada panchayat under Pottangi police limits in Odisha’s Koraput district.

gun factory

The combing party has seized five country-made rifles, 200gm gun powder, iron pieces, heat blower machine, drilling machine, hacksaw blades, triggers, barrel grip, hammers, knives etc used in gun making during search operations on Sunday.

Jawans of the 120 battalion of the BSF stationed at Raleguda launched combing operations on Sunday following intelligence inputs of Maoists running a gun making unit in the Turukpadu-Motawalesa reserve forest.

The search party after 3/4 hours of search located a hut inside the forest.  After encircling the hut from all sides; the jawans raided the hut only to find it abandoned by the Maoists, who had got air of the operations.

However, the Maoists who had left in a hurry had left behind arms, tools and equipment used in gun making which were seized by the BSF jawans.

“This gun manufacturing unit was running under the supervision of Maoist leader Suresh for training new recruits in the rebel organization,” informed J C Nayak, BSF DIG (Intelligence) talking to reporters.

Sources said around 10 to 20 Maoists including Suresh were in the hut and were planning for a strike but had dispersed on getting information of the combing by the jawans.