Hazaribag: Eight members of the banned TSPC (Tritiya Prastuti Committee) outfit were arrested with a cache of arms and ammunition during a late-night operation on Saturday in the Urimari police station limits.According to police, they received information that members linked to the banned extremist outfit were planning to carry out a major incident. Following the tip-off, a special team was constituted under the direction of Hazaribag superintendent of police, Anjani Anjan.During vehicle checking and patrolling, police spotted an SUV moving suspiciously. When signalled to stop, the driver attempted to flee, prompting a chase. The vehicle later lost control near Hudhdu village and crashed into a roadside tree, after which all occupants were apprehended.During the search, police recovered arms concealed under the front and middle seats of the vehicle. The seizure included two 5.56 mm INSAS rifles, 90 rounds of 5.56 mm live ammunition, 37 rounds of 7.62 mm live ammunition, 26 rounds of 7.65 mm live ammunition, 21 rounds of 9 mm live ammunition, one country-made pistol, one four-wheeler, and seven mobile phones.Giddi officer-in-charge Rana Bhanu Pratap Singh and OC of Urimari, Ratthu Oraon, said the arrested persons have been identified as Sunil Munda (27), Virendra Munda (20), Surendra Munda (30), Lalmohan Munda (22), Anil Munda (18), Ravindra Ganjhu (19), Satyendra Ganjhu (34), and Sanjay Munda (34), all residents of Latehar district.The operation was carried out by a team comprising SI Ranjit Kumar (Katkamsandi OP), SI Kashyap (Lohsinghna), OP in-charge Pradeep Prakash Pandey (Pelawal OP), along with personnel from the technical and special branches.Further investigation is underway to ascertain the wider network and possible links of the arrested persons, police said.
