A major loot incident in Sundargarh district has raised fresh concerns over Maoist involvement in the Odisha-Jharkhand border region, which remains a long-standing hotspot of extremist activity.

The concerns surfaced as seven to eight armed and masked men stormed a house and a ration shop near Banko stone quarry under Keblang police station limits late on Tuesday night.

The miscreants allegedly looted cash, ration supplies, and gold ornaments belonging to local trader Puniya Ray and his family. Preliminary investigations suggest possible Maoist links, though police are yet to confirm whether the crime was a case of dacoity or an extremist operation.

Past Incidents Raise Doubts

According to reports, the area has witnessed Maoist activity in the recent past. On May 27 this year, around 5

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