JOIN USThe Uttar Pradesh Police have recovered a rocket launcher from Jawahar Bagh Park in Mathura, where a clash between members of a cult and the cops had left many, including two senior police officials dead.
The rocket launcher, which had ‘Made In USA’ inscribed on it, was recovered from the park during the search operation conducted by the bomb disposal squad, according to the police sources here on Wednesday.
Sources said that the squad members also recovered a huge quantity of articles used in making bombs. “A large amount of gun powder and other articles have been found at the park...these articles could make hundreds of crude bombs”', said a senior police official here.
Officials in Mathura said that a case was registered with the police in this connection and investigation was on. “We are trying to ascertain from where the cult leader Ram Vriksh Yadav had procured the launcher and other automatic weapons”, said the official. The police suspect that the cult members had close connections with the Maoists outfits and it was possible that they had procured weapons and ammunition from them. The Maxalite connection was already under investigation.
The toll in last week’s violence at the park had gone up to 32 with death of three more people in the hospital, sources said.
Scores of people were still being treated at the hospitals. The police said that they had arrested 236 people in connection with the incident so far. “We are looking for the cult members, who managed to escape”, the official added. Sources said that police teams have been looking for Yadav’s closest aide Chandan Bose, who is believed to have escaped from the park soon after the clashes started.
Bose was said to be the accountant of the sect and kept records of all the expenditure. Teams had been sent to Delhi and some other states in search for the cult members.
The UP government has announced a judicial probe into the violence.
DH News Service
police: A large amount of gun powder and other articles have been found at the park...these articles could make hundreds of crude bombs.