Explosives cache near Pavagad unearthed

The container buried in the forest contained a 0.22 revolver, 11 bullets, five bombs, two hand grenades, 95 gelatin sticks, 300 detonator, 10 SLR bullets, a 303 rifle chamber, two boxes of ammonium nitrate, 35 metres of fuse wire, photographs of naxals and extremist literature.

The container was exposed after the recent heavy rain washed away layers of soil. Sheep rearers who noticed it brought it to the notice of villagers, who in turn informed the police.

The police, who arrived at the spot with sniffer dogs and bomb squad, brought the container out. Kanaganapalli police inspector Narasimharaj, PSI Thamin Ahmed, Tahsildhar Nagabhushan visited the spot.

Police suspect the container was buried in the earth at least eight years ago since the naxals, whose photographs were found in the container, have already been killed in encounters.

They also asked the villagers to not panic saying there may be many more such containers buried in the earth, but it does not indicate that naxals are still active in the region.