Bihar: Huge haul of explosives in Munger

In the run up to election, security forces on Monday recovered a large quantity of explosives and wireless sets from a place in the Maoist-affected Munger district.

In another incident, police arrested a man from Uttar Pradesh and two arms suppliers with weapons and cash from a locality in Munger. Munger goes to polls in the second phase on April 17.

The recoveries included 2000 detonators, over two dozen wireless sets, blankets, uniforms, Maoist literature and anti-malarial medicines, said IG (operations) Amit Kumar.

A joint team of CRPF, Cobra battalion, special task force and district police launched a major combing operation against Maoists in Barkhi Kandani hills of Bhimbandh forest, 25 kilometres from Munger district headquarters, where former Munger SP KC Surendra Babu was killed in a landmine blast in 2005.

The recovery is significant, as Bhimbandh area is close to Jamui district, bordering Giridih in Jharkhand. On November 30, 2013, Maoists had attacked a running Sahebganj-Patna Inter-City Express train near a tunnel between Jamalpur and Ashikpur railway stations and killed three railway police jawans and looted their weapons.

Munger SP Barun Kumar SInha said bunkers of Maoists had been destroyed. "Search operation is still on. The force will stay in the hills overnight. We have sent a strong force of around 250 personnel," he said, adding the three arrested with arms had been identified as Md Mustakim, a native of Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi district, and two local arms supplier Md. Islam and Md. Jamshed from Chowk Bazar.

Huge recovery of detonators from the area has authenticated police doubt about stockpiling of explosives by the Maoists in their areas of influence for disruptive purposes during forthcoming elections. The hilly forest tract comprising tri-junction of Jamui, Banka and Munger districts and is considered to be major stronghold of the maoists.

Intelligence Bureau had recently cautioned the state police that Maoists may target some leaders and police officers either ahead of polls or during the polls. "We have stepped up search operation across the state to ensure free and fair polls," said an official of the police headquarters.