Notorious Maoist Kunjam Hidma Arrested with AK-47 and Explosives in Odisha

According to official sources, the DVF team launched a special operation on the night of May 28 based on credible intelligence inputs. Early the next morning, the team spotted a group of Naxalites camped on a hill in the Petguda forest. As the DVF personnel advanced to encircle the group, the Maoists opened fire and fled into the dense forest. The DVF responded with controlled fire and initiated a thorough search of the area.

During the operation, one Maoist cadre was apprehended while attempting to hide in a nearby bush, while others managed to escape. The arrested individual has been identified as Kunjam Hidma, also known as Mohan, an Area Committee Member (ACM) of the Maoist group. His father was the late Kunjam Lakma, and he hails from Janguda village under Usur Police Station in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.

A substantial cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the Maoist hideout. The seized items include:

• One AK-47 rifle

• 35 rounds of live ammunition

• 27 electric detonators

• 90 non-electric detonators

• 2 kg of gunpowder

• 2 steel containers

• 2 radios

• 1 earphone

• 1 Motorola walkie-talkie

• 10 batteries

• 2 knives

• 1 katuri (small axe)

• 4 torch lights

• 15 Maoist-related materials and other assorted items

This arrest is considered a major success in the ongoing anti-Naxalite operations in the region. Odisha Police have intensified surveillance and combing operations to track down the remaining Maoist cadres who escaped during the encounter.

Further investigation is underway.