Security forces recover more arms from Gasama hill

Bhubaneswar, Feb 23 (UNI) The security forces today recovered more arms and ammunition looted by the Naxalites from the armouries at Nayagarh on February 15 during a joint combing operation.

This was the third major recovery by the security forces in the last one week ever since the country's biggest search operation was launched in the state to track down the fleeing ultras involved in Nayagarh mayhem killing 15 police personnel and a civilian.

Making a statement in the State Assembly, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said the search parties had recovered 30 INSAS Rifles, 17 revolvers, two SLRs, forty 303 rifles and about 3000 rounds of ammunition.

Yesterday the securitymen had seized a truck, loaded with arms including 237 three-zero-three rifles, 16 INSAS rifles, two SLR, six Stengun, five carbine, one sub-machine gun, 16 pistols, four country made guns, 16 boxes live cartridges, two thousand round empty cartridges, 19 land mines, six grenades and three swords, looted by the naxals from Nayagarh Armoury.

On February 18 the Greyhound force, CRPF and Special Operation Group (SOG), engaged in the combing operation, had seized a huge dump of arms and ammunition left behind by the rebels on the Gasama hill.

The Chief Minister said the search and combing operation were continuing in full swing in Gosama hill range and other areas in Nayagarh, Kandhmal, Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts.

He said several suspects have been picked up from various places for interrogation while combing operation was intensified in some of the Naxal affected districts.

Immediate steps were being taken to fortify all the important police stations and armouries in the state. As a long term measure, the state government, Mr Patnaik said has requested the Union Home Minister to sanction five more India Reserve Battalion for Orissa.

The Centre had already sanctioned three I R Battalion of which the state government had already raised one IR Battalion and steps were being taken to complete the recruitment of two other battalions within a month, the Chief Minister said.

MORE UNI DP KK MIR BST2047