Security personnel today destroyed a Maoist camp, seized a huge cache of firearms and arrested an ultra during a joint raid in the dense forest of Odisha's Ganjam district.
Kandra Dalabehera alias Paster, identified as the self-styled area commander of the Maoist group and allegedly involved in several incidents, was apprehended from the jungle during anti-Maoist "Hot" operation, SP (Ganjam) Ashish Kumar Singh said.
The anti-Maoist operation was carried out jointly by the Special Operation Group (SOG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Ganjam district voluntary force (DVF) and Gajapati police, Singh said.
It was launched in the triangular area of Badagada, Sheragada and Mohana police stations from the mid-night of Thursday and ended this morning, he said.
During the raids, the personnel destroyed a camp of Sabyasachi Panda's Odisha Maobadi Party (OMP)at Rechagurha dense forest area under Badagada police station limit, Singh said.
Paster, a close aid of Panda was allegedly involved in at least 11 Maoist-related cases in Ganjam and Gajapati districts of the state. The cases pending against him in Kandhamal district was under verification, police said.
He was associated with the Maoist group since 2009 and became the 'area commander', they added.
Security forces later raided a Maoist camp based on Paster's information, police said, adding that some ultras including Panda were suspected to have escaped from the spot. Police believed at least 10-12 members were in camp before it was busted.
