Huge cache of arms, ammunition seized in 3 districs

PATNA: Three teams of the special task force (STF) conducted raids in Khagaria, Buxar and Saran districts on Friday night and seized huge cache of arms and ammunition which were allegedly being used by members of banned CPI (Maoist) and criminals.

The cops arrested Azad Paswan alias Bihari ji, a member of CPI (Maoist), from village Parasa Ganda under Sikraul police station area in Buxar district.

IG (operations) Amit Kumar said Paswan was the secretary of the Sone-Vindhyachal zonal committee of the CPI (Maoist) group. "The STF team arrested him with Rs 63,000 which was collected as levy from different persons," he said. Ten cases in Buxar and five in Rohtas are lodged against Paswan. He was released on bail.

During a raid in an area under Mufassil police station in Khagaria, an arms supplier Manoj Yadav was arrested. IG (operations) said Yadav was arrested from village Morkahi. The cops seized one country-made pistol and 400 rounds of live. 395 bore bullets. He was wanted in several murder cases, the IG said.

The third raid was conducted at Goswami Security Agency at Railway Wheel Factory, Chhapra, in Saran district. "Altogether 29 guns were found in their possession. Only 14 of them had licence. There was clear violation of Arms Act and Bihar Security Agency Regulations Act. A case has been lodged in this connection with Dariapur police station in Saran against Gaurav Goswami, owner of the security agency, and 16 others," added the IG.