Maoist camp destroyed

BERHAMPUR: Uneasy calm prevails in Ganjam district following destruction of a Maoist camp and recovery of ammunition. The police said on Sunday that the Maoist camp was destroyed and huge quantities of materials, including landmine wire, were seized during an operation by security forces inside a forest in Ganjam district.About 6 kg of wire used for landmine explosion, a generator, stabilisers, bullet-proof jackets and uniforms were among the materials seized from the camp in Sorada area which was destroyed during the raid conducted since Friday night, police said.The seized materials included Maoist literature, several CDs, three containers with rice, dal, water jackets, medicines, glucose packets, saline bottles besides  contraceptives and around 200 packets of condoms.“Maoists who were camping there fled after an exchange of fire with security personnel on Friday night in the jungle. No one was hurt in the fire,” Ganjam SP Rajesh Pandit said. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operation Group (SOG) had conducted the raid.In another operation, security personnel seized a tiffin bomb, Maoist uniforms, medicines and literature from Sharmbi forest under Kandhamal’s Kotagarh police limits.Exchange of fire also took place in the area between ultras and security personnel during the combing operation on the same day, said DIG (southern range) R K Sharma. This was the first exchange of fire between the Red rebels and security personnel after the twin hostage crises.