What began as a routine search operation in the quiet hills of Giridih turned into a major security breakthrough when police and central forces recovered a large cache of weapons buried underground in the Parasnath foothills.
The arms, recovered after nearly 22 years, were found to be the same weapons looted by Maoists during an attack on a Home Guards camp in 2004.
The joint operation was carried out by Giridih Police along with personnel of the CRPF’s 154th Battalion in the Bhalki hill and Kanedih areas under the Khukhra police station limits.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, security forces launched an intensive search in the densely forested and rugged terrain, which remains largely deserted even during daytime.
During the operation, security personnel noticed suspicious ground markings. Upon digging, they were stunned to find weapons concealed deep inside the soil. As the excavation continued, one weapon after another was recovered, leaving even seasoned personnel surprised at the scale of the haul.
The recovered arms include 11 single-shot .303 bore rifles, nine .22 bore rifles, six hand grenades, one grenade projector, one ammunition box, 30 charger clips, and two bundles of electric copper wire. All items were safely seized and shifted to a secure location following standard safety protocols.
According to police records, Maoists had attacked a Home Guards camp during the Pachamba Goshala Mela in 2004 and looted 20 rifles and six hand grenades.
The incident had sent shockwaves across the region at the time, but despite extensive searches, the looted weapons remained untraced for over two decades. Investigators believe the arms were buried by extremists for future use.
Giridih Superintendent of Police Dr Bimal Kumar briefed the media at Paparwatand Police Lines, stating that the recovery was the result of sustained intelligence gathering and coordinated action.
He said search operations in the region are continuing and security forces remain on high alert to prevent any resurgence of extremist activity.
Following the recovery, security has been tightened in the Parasnath region and surrounding areas, with intensified combing operations underway in forest and hill zones.
Also read: 2 killed, 4 injured as wild elephants continue rampage in J’khand
Follow us
