East Singhbhum police have recovered huge cache of arms and ammunitions from a hill in Maoists-infested Ghurabandha police station area of Ghatshila sub-division on Tuesday.
The seizure included a self-loading rifle (SlR), two 303 rifles and 60 rounds of ammunitions beside bomb-making equipment. The recovery was made following revelations made by lady Naxal Sonali Tuddu during her probe.
Apart from the arms, ammunition and explosive-making equipment, the police have seized naxal literature, rebel uniforms and also a book having photograph of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on the cover page.
Sonali (27), who is presently lodged at Ghatshila sub-jail after she was arrested on January 3, is the widow of hardcore rebel Sepay Tuddu. Sepay (30) was killed in an encounter with police and para-military forces at Gian village in Ghurabandha on January 3.
Addressing the media, senior superintendent of police, Anoop T Mathew said that the fire-arms and ammunitions were seized from a hill called Dangrapahar in Ghurabandha at the inputs given by Sonali Tuddu whom they had taken on police remand recently.
"We had arrested Sonali who was along with the rebel. During interrogation she had revealed that there were at least three such points where the rebel squad led by Kanhu Munda belonging to the CPI-Maoist would keep the fire-arms concealed," said Mathew. Talking to the newsmen, the senior SP said that the lady rebel had led them to two spots.
" It is an important achievement for the security forces. From one of the spots, we got the three rifles, including the SlR. But we did not get anything from a second arms-hiding point also in Ghurabandha. It is possible that a rebel, Kartik Munda, who is in-charge of protecting the fire-arms might have shifted the hidden fire-arms to somewhere else soon after Sonali was arrested," said the senior police officer.
Mathew, on being asked, said they have also been told about some points where the Kanhu Munda squad has concealed the demonetised Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes.
"During the grilling, Sonali revealed that soon after demonetisation, the rebels had shifted a portion of the Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes for getting exchanged with new Rs 2000 through various Rscontacts'. We will try to find out the currency notes soon," the senior SP said.
The police and paramilitary forces have also beefed up the naxal infested areas of East Singhbhum district. Sources informed that the police are frisking commuters in the bordering areas. At some places common people are also being interrogated by police and paramilitary force on suspicion. Forces have been deployed in strategic locations.
The district police have maintained that combing operation in the Maoist infested areas of the district will continue as usual and there is no let up whatsoever.