Lakhisarai: Security forces in the eastern Indian state of Bihar have recovered a cache of weapons and live ammunition in a coordinated search operation in a Naxal-affected district, officials said, in what is being seen as a pre-emptive move against a possible insurgent plot.
The operation was carried out by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in the forested and hilly terrain of Piri Bazar and Kajra in Lakhisarai district following intelligence inputs that arms had been concealed in the area.
According to officials, personnel from the SSB’s 16th Battalion, along with local police, launched the search on Wednesday afternoon under the direction of commandant Anil Kumar Pathania. A team led by deputy commandant Govind Kumar entered dense forest zones near the Haddadiya and Chormara hills, areas known for limited accessibility and past insurgent activity.
The search operation relied on a combination of aerial and ground surveillance techniques. Drones were deployed to scan the terrain from above, while sniffer dogs and deep-search metal detectors were used on the ground to identify traces of explosives and hidden metallic objects.
After several hours of combing the area, the team located a concealed hideout among rocky outcrops near Haddadiya village. A subsequent search led to the recovery of a country-made musket, a sling, multiple rounds of live ammunition, including 8mm and .380 calibre cartridges, and a spent 7.62mm shell casing.
Officials said the recovery indicates the likelihood of preparations for a violent incident, though no arrests have been made so far. Local police, including personnel from Piri Bazar station, were involved in the operation.
Security has since been intensified across affected parts of Lakhisarai, with authorities now focusing on identifying those responsible for storing the weapons and determining whether the cache was linked to a broader insurgent plan.
The discovery is expected to deal a setback to Naxal-linked networks operating in the region, police said, as investigations continue into the origins and intended use of the seized arms.
