Cache of weapons seized in Chhattisgarh capital

Raipur, Jan 22: The police seized a huge cache of country made weapons, wireless sets and batteries from travel bags left abandoned here late last night.

Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar said 91 country made pistols of .315 bore, 26 wireless sets, a toiletry kit and a Hindi novel were found in seven travel bags found lying in Lakhe Nagar locality.

Police swung into action after a local shopkeeper alerted the police that travel bags were lying near his shop. Bomb disposal squad and sniffer dogs were pressed into service, suspecting possibility of explosives inside these bags.

Police sources said the shopkeeper had told the police that a woman, who came in a car, had left these bags near the shop. A sketch of the woman is being prepared.

It is suspected that these weapons and other equipment were meant for naxalite activities, which has spread to more than half of the 18 districts in the state. There were also reports about increased Maoist movement in the state capital and surrounding districts.

Meanwhile, police stepped up security at all important places in the state capital, particularly in view of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

UNI