The two-week-long search operation in the Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district of Orissa has been completed by the search teams from the Andhra Pradesh police and Indian Navy as all the 38 bodies of Greyhound commandos and police personnel were found.
Visakhapatanam district superintendent of police Akun Sabharwal, who was leading the search operations since the Maoist attacked and sunk a launch on May 29, said the last body was recovered from the reservoir this morning, taking the toll to 38.
He has been identified as Krishna, a home guard from Visakhapatnam district.
They are still looking for 40 missing weapons, including seven AK-47 rifles and other automatic weapons. Of 60 such weapons, the commandos and the policemen carried at the time of the attack, only 20 have been found.
"The search will continue till all the weapons are found", said Sabhrwal.
Meanwhile, it has been planned to air-lift the members of search teams, including two hundred Greyhound commandos from the Naxal-infested areas to avoid any attacks by the rebels or any loss of life.
"In the given situation, their return on foot or through water ways is out of question. We cannot take chances anymore," said an official.
