The sniffer dog in search of clue. (Anirban Choudhury)

Alipurduar, March 17: A light machine gun (LMG), which was stolen from the subdivisional court here on Friday, was recovered from the Dima river today.

The recovery was made after one of the four local boys, who had gone to swim, hit a bag in the water. They opened the bag and found bullets in it. The boys informed the Alipurduar police station.

A team led by Ujjwal Bhowmik, the subdivisional police officer of Alipurduar, began a search operation with the help of the boys.

The Jalpaiguri district police chief, Tripurari, confirmed the recovery. “We have recovered a LMG and 60 rounds of live bullets but not arrested anyone. Our investigation is on,” he said.

The LMG was stolen from the storeroom of the court on Friday midnight. A gang of dacoits had raided the court on that day. After locking Parimal Ghosh, the only home guard who was on duty then, inside the office room, the gang broke open the lock of the storeroom and took away the firearm from a steel almirah, a police source said

Next morning when the sweepers found some firearms on the veranda and rescued Parimal after hearing his cries. They also informed the police.

The source said the LMG was seized in 2003 but could not name the persons from whom it was recovered.

Yesterday, a snifter dog was brought from Jalpaiguri to check the area. Armed guards have been deployed on the court premises.