Huge quantity of ammunition seized in Kolkata

Over 5,000 rounds of .315 cartridges, possibly meant for the Maoists, were found in a car after it was intercepted by police for violating traffic rules near Shovabazar Metro railway station here.

A traffic sergeant on a motorcycle stopped the car bearing a Bihar registration number yesterday at Jatindra Mohan Avenue for jumping a red light and asked for the papers, police said today. When one of the occupants of the car alighted, the driver sped off with the traffic sergeant chasing it, police said, adding the man who had got down fled from the spot.

The sergeant caught up with the car and managed to stop it, as two others in it fled, the sources said. A search of the car revealed 5000 rounds of .315 bore ammunition, they said, which was possibly meant for the Maoists. Police said similar ammunition was used by the Maoists.

The seizure was being investigated by the Special Task Force of the police. The discovery of the ammunition comes two days after a police constable belonging to the Howrah Police Lines was arrested in Burdwan town for supplying explosives to Maoists.

Earlier in 2003, 25,000 rounds of ammunition destined for militants in Kashmir and those operating in North East, were seized from an abandoned truck in the metropolis.