Click to play videoAndhra Pradesh: The Andhra Pradesh police on Friday claimed its biggest arms haul in two years, and ironically, the haul has come as a huge shock and surprise to the security forces.
The police recovered hundreds of sophisticated yet indigenously made rocket missiles from Naxal-controlled forests in the Mehboobnagar district.
20 rocket launchers, 600 empty rocket shells and 50 gelatin sticks are what the Andhra Pradesh Police recovered in the Mehboobnagar-Achmpet region of the state late on Thursday night.
The consignment was on it's way to Nallamalla forest, the stronghold of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist. The police also diffused nearly 20 landmines in the area.
Says DGP, Andhra Pradesh, Swaranjit Sen, "This is the most significant arms haul for us, but it shows that the Naxals are still trying to push their luck."
Though the missiles did not have any factory markings, intelligence sources confirm that they were indigenously developed in Tamil Nadu.
|
Police say that the seized rockets have the capability to shoot targets up to 1 km range. The targets can be a moving car, bus, truck or even a low-flying helicopter.
This massive arms haul can be seen as a significant achievement for the Andhra Police in their battle against the Naxalites.
However, it is the 'Made in India' tag, which has come as a major bolt from the blue. Combined with the sheer number and the sophistication of technology used, the haul has served as a grim reminder of how powerful the Naxalites have become.
"I can say that Naxals are down but not out," says Swaranjit Sen.
Naxal violence has claimed over 6,000 lives in the state of Andhra Pradesh over the last three decades including those of 2,500 civilians, policemen and politicians. And if the huge arms haul is an indicator, Naxalites are preparing to shed more blood than ever before.
(With Sumon K Chakrabarti in New Delhi)
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.