Security forces seize stolen explosives in Odisha

Following the hijacking of a truck carrying explosive materials by armed Maoist insurgents in the Banko forest area of Sundargarh, a joint search operation was conducted by three security force teams from Odisha and Jharkhand. The stolen materials were subsequently recovered in the Saranda forest of Jharkhand. During the operation, one of the search teams engaged in sporadic gunfire with the Maoists, resulting in injuries to a member of the security personnel. Official confirmation of this information is pending. Security forces have attributed the illegal transportation of the explosives to the Maoist group headed by Misir Besra, a prominent leader whose organization the forces intend to dismantle by March 2026.