Maoist posters, four rifles among other arms seized

JAMSHEDPUR: Huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from Porahat forest range under Sonua police station in West Singhbhum district at the instance of former CPI (Maoist) zonal commander Jeevan Kandulna, police said on Tuesday.

“Four rifles, 220 rounds of ammunition, improvised explosive devices, codex wire, detonators, Maoist posters, literature, bills and other items were recovered from Tenderkocha jungle under Porahat forest range at the instance of former Maoist Jeevan Kandulna, who recently surrendered before police, on Monday by a joint team of West Singhbhum police and Central Reserve Police Force Battalion-60,” Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Kolhan deputy inspector general (DIG), said.

Jeevan, who carried a reward of ₹10 lakh on his head, surrendered last Sunday before the Ranchi police.

The DIG further said police will now investigate as to how such huge quantities of bullets were reaching the banned CPI (Maoist).

“All rifles and ammunition stock of license holders will be examined under supervision of magistrates to find out if ammunition was finding it’s way to Maoists. A case under relevant sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code was lodged in this regard,” the DIG said.

The DIG also appealed to other left wing extremists to surrender and come back to the mainstream.

“Jeevan surrendered seeing and realising the benefits of state government’s surrender policy. We appeal to other extremists to follow suit or face the consequences,” said Singh

As per police, a 303 rifle, three 315 rifles, 220 rounds of ammunition, 29 batteries, two hand grenades, a bundle of codex wire, detonators, materials for making arrow bombs, Maoist posters, literature and bills etc, were also recovered from the spot.

Former Maoist ultra Jeevan Kandulna was wanted in 77 cases of Maoist violence across the state, of which 69 were pending in different police stations in West Singhbhum district alone.