Arms found in Maoist bunker

RANCHI: Giridih police on Monday found more than 50 countrymade guns and 15 rifles after destroying a bunker reportedly built by rebels in the Maoist-dominated Parasnath Hill, known for the Jain pilgrimage site Shikharji, which draws a large uge number of pilgrims every year.
DGP Rajiv Kumar said police have recovered 50 countrymade guns, 15 rifles, a huge cache of bullets, four boxes of Maoist literature, a large number of detonators, among other things.
"I had directed Giridih police to keep a strong vigil as assembly elections are round the corner. The recovery comes as a huge blow to the Maoists before the polls. We will continue our offensive against them," said Kumar.
A police officer said the bunker was made of concrete and Maoists used to hide their arms and explosives in it. "The bunker was covered with bushes, making it difficult to make out that something was lying hidden beneath. We had specific information about it and we formed a team to raid the area," said Giridih SP Kranti Kumar.
"I do not know whether there were landmines inside the bunker or not. The forces will return only around midnight and only then would I be able to comment on the matter," said Kumar. He added that the inside view of the bunker suggested that Maoists used this bunker as a storeroom, where they would also sleep at times.
The bunker was situated to the south of Mohanpur village atop one of the Parasnath hills.