Bomb squads sent to India’s Patna after explosives haul

Bomb disposal squads from Delhi and Kolkota were sent to the east Indian state of Bihar Saturday after police seized around 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of explosives believed to be from left-wing Maoist rebels.

Police made the find Thursday at a residential locality on the outskirts of the state capital Patna.

“In all over 100 kilograms of explosives were recovered,” Sudhir Kumar Podika, Patna city superintendent of police, told AFP.

“These bombs, believed to have been brought into the city by the People’s Liberation Front of India, were of moderate to high intensity,” he added.

Police said they had to call in teams from the elite National Security Guard in the capital New Delhi and from the eastern city of Kolkota to ensure there were no explosions in the residential area where the devices were recovered.

Podika said they made the find after an “intelligence tip-off” from police in neighbouring Jharkhand state.

“In all, we recovered 12 improvised explosive devices, 52 timer devices, 10 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, two sensors, seven remotes and 100 electric detonators from the lodge in a residential area,” the officer added.

Police have yet to arrest anyone in connection with the explosives.

The rebels have been fighting since 1967 to set up a communist society.

They are thought to be present in at least 20 states, but are most active in Chattisgarh, Orrisa, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, dominating vast swathes of the region.

Their insurgency has cost thousands of lives including through bombings and attacks, particularly on police and soldiers.