Huge cache of arms recovered from Maoist hideout in WB

The Central Reserve Police Force and the police have seized a huge cache of arms from Maoist hideouts during a search operation in West Bengal's West Midnapore District.

According to the security officials, a search and cordon operation was launched in the forests area near west Midnapore district, where 27 rifles were found buried in the ground.

The police were tipped about the presence of rebel Jagdish Mahato in the near by village and he had come to meet his family. The village was raided and he was arrested.   

Superintendent of police, west Midnapore, Sunil Chowdhury, said Mahato will be interrogated.

"We recovered around 27, 350 rifles from Daspur forests and the person Jagadish Mahato has been arrested. Police said that such combing operations would continue until the ultras resort to peaceful process to voice and express their views as well as become a part of the social mainstream.

The crackdown on rebel-dominated areas had raised hopes that the government was winning the battle against Maoists whom Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described as India's biggest internal security threat.

Over the past few years, the rebels have stepped up their efforts against the government, targeting and damaging democratic and civil institutions of the nation, such as schools, medical centres and government property.