By IANS
Kolkata : Paramilitary forces and police Thursday recovered a huge quantity of ammunition and Maoist literature in West Bengal’s Nandigram area, and authorities said it confirmed the rebels’ role in violence in the region.
The police also found detonators and crude explosives.
“The police have recovered about 410 rounds of ammunition from Sonachura area. The CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) also seized 75 detonators and 25 kg of explosive materials form another place,” West Bengal Inspector General of Police Raj Kanojia told IANS.
He said the CRPF and the police had recovered another 200 rounds of bullets and four improvised long-range riffle from another area in Nandigram.
According to the police, most of the ammunition seized from Nandigram in East Midnapore, around 150 from Kolkata, were bullets for double-barrel rifles.
“We have recovered some firearms and a large volume of ammunition in our search operation. We also have found Maoists literature. The CRPF will continue its operation across Nandigram,” CRPF Deputy Inspector General Alok Raj said.
Kanojia said police had arrested three people from Sagar Island in South 24-Parganas district Wednesday night and recovered Maoists literature and a map of Nandigram.
“We are trying to get more information by interrogating them. Now, we are sure about the involvement of Maoists in Nandigram,” he said.
Kanojia said a team of 25 Maoists had trained 150 villagers in Nandigram. The Maoist team had been staying in the area for the past two months.
Earlier, the CRPF personnel found four improvised explosive devices at Sonachura and seized three riffles Tuesday.
Nandigram was returning to normalcy after yet another round of violence last week as cadres of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) clashed with villagers. The violence since January has claimed 34 lives.
The unrest was originally sparked by the state government decision to take over farmland for industry. Although the plan was shelved following mass protests, violence continued over the months between supporters and critics of the CPI-M.