Another explosives consignment seized in Bihar, police worried

Police in Bihar are worried following the seizure of huge consignments of explosive materials and fire arms over the past week, including a huge cache on Thursday, suspected to be meant for Maoists to launch violent attacks in the state and Jharkhand, an official said.

Police in Bihar are worried following the seizure of huge consignments of explosive materials and fire arms over the past week, including a huge cache on Thursday, suspected to be meant for Maoists to launch violent attacks in the state and Jharkhand, an official said Saturday.

HT Image

Additional Director General (headquarters) U.S. Dutt Saturday said the police were probing the recovery of the explosives and arms.

"Police are trying to find out the real story behind the recovery of the huge consignment of explosives and arms, brought for use of the Maoists," Dutt said.

About 5,000 kgs of explosive material was seized from Gaya district Thursday, while around 300 kgs were seized Saturday and 600 kgs Sunday from Patna.

Also, 18 bags of explosives powder were recovered from a house in a residential locality in Bhootnath Road Sunday. Besides, 300 bottles of chemicals for preparing IEDs, 7,221 live cartridges, 50 detonators, parts for making 14 carbines and Maoist literature were also seized.

Patna police along with Jharkhand police had seized 32,000 live cartridges, one AK-47 rifle, two INSAS rifles, three hand grenades and a huge quantity of explosives in Bokaro on Tuesday following inputs provided by four people detained in connection with the recovery of the explosives in Patna last weekend.

Police suspect the consignment was for Maoist rebels in Bihar and Jharkhand ahead of the assembly polls.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said that Patna police have arrested Subodh Singh alias Subhas Singh, the alleged mastermind behind the supply of explosives and fire arms to Maoist guerrillas.

Bihar Director General of Police Anand Shankar had told reporters that all the state agencies have to work together to tackle the inter-state network of peddlers of arms, ammunition and explosive materials.