The Andhra Pradesh police seized 50 pressure mine devices used to explode landmines from the scrap of the lost property depot of Kranti Transport Company in Vijayawada city.

In September, about 800 rocket launchers meant for the Maoists were seized from the godowns of Kranti Transport in Mahbubnagar and Prakasam districts. 

The pressure mine is a sophisticated version of landmines and is used by the Maoists to target the police.

The police suspect that the pressure mines were made in Nellore and sent to Maoists in Nallamala forests through the transport company.

The devices, consisting of two aluminium and indalium containers resembling a tiffin box, could be stuffed with explosives such as ammonium nitrate or RDX and could be ignited instantly with the help of a detonator.

Vijayawada Assistant Commissioner of Police (Central) M Satyanarayana Rao said on Tuesday that the mines are deadly and could have devastating effect.

This particular consignment was booked by one K Satyanarayana in Nellore on May 8, to be transported to Vijayawada by Kranti Transport. From Vijayawada, it was redirected to Komaravolu in Markapur sub-division in Prakasam district on May 26.

Since the place was close to Nallamala forests, the Maoists did not take the consignment.

Intense police patrolling in the area meant that the consignment was again booked for Vijayawada.

Since no one came to claim the consignment for three months, the transport company sent it to the lost properties department. Acting on a tip off, the Vijayawada City Police and a team of Special Investigation Team raided the LPD godown and seized the devices, neatly packed in gunny bags and lying unclaimed.

The mines were numbered 51 to 100 and the police suspect that another 50 mines could be with the Maoists. The seized mines were being sent to the AP Forensic labs in Hyderabad for analysis.