Odisha police have seized contraceptives and pregnancy testing kits from a Maoist hideout on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.

The seizure has confirmed the suspicion that the Maoists are exploiting women cadres in their camps.

Addressing reporters on Thursday, Nabarangpur superintendent of police S. Susree said: “The Maoists are exploiting girls and women. We have evidence of this. When we raided a Maoist camp on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border after a gunfight that continued for nearly half an hour on Wednesday, we seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition. We have also seized contraceptives and pregnancy testing kits.”

Susree said: “An anti-Maoist operation was launched in Raighar–Sobha area on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. Two units of the Special Operations Group came across a group of 20-25 armed Maoists on Wednesday morning. Maoists started firing at the police party. The police returned the fire. The exchange of fire continued for about half an hour. However, no one was hurt in the gun battle.”