In a major haul of explosives before the Lok Sabha elections, security forces Friday recovered 27 powerful landmines in Bihar's Gaya district, while a hardcore Maoist was arrested from neighbouring Aurangabad district.
Besides the landmines, 24 pipe bombs weighing five kg each and three tiffin bombs weighing 10 kg each were found hidden below a road connecting Guria and Lutwa under Imamganj police station in Gaya district during sanitising operations by CRPF and police, police sources said.
An Aurangabad report said that acting on a tip-off, the police raided Gamharia village and nabbed Maoist sub-zonal commander Awadesh Yadav while he was meeting some people for boycott of polls, Additional Superintendent of Police, Operations, Rajesh Kumar Bharti said.
A country-made rifle and five rounds of ammunition were seized from him.
Gaya and Aurangabad are among six Lok Sabha seats in Maoist-hit areas going to polls in the first phase on April 10.