661 extremists arrested during last fifteen months in Bihar

Patna, Mar 24 (UNI) As many as 661 extremists, including 93 zonal and area commanders of proscribed CPI(Maoist), were arrested during last fifteen months in Bihar in a special drive launched in January 2007.

According to official sources these arrests were made to check the crime and warn the criminals of grave consequences if they try to disturb the peaceful co-existence in the state.

The task forces recovered 210 firearms including 9512 kg explosives like cane bomb and gelatine wire.They also seized 113 grenades, 26572 detonators, 20360 live cartridges and illegal arms during various raids conducted at different hideouts, sources informed.

The sources further said four illegal firearms factories and training camps were destroyed by the task forces and they also seized six lakh rupees which were collected as levy by the extremists.

The sources maintained that the pace of crime in the state was reduced successfully as a result of which the incidents of abduction, extortion, loot and arson has come down remarkably in the state.

Whereas 411 cases relating to abduction were lodged in 2004 it has come down over the years as it was 251, 194 and 89 respectively in 2005, 06 and 07.

No extortion or abduction cases were lodged in the thirteen districts of the state in 2007 whereas one each was lodged in eight districts, sourced added.

UNI RH ADG DB2057