Patna, March 13: Call it a favourite pastime or lure of cash but many retired army officials own private security agencies in Bihar.

A home department list of private security agencies revealed that at least 10 retired army personnel were running private security agencies in the state. The licence for running the agencies was provided by the home department.

Sources in the home department said 66 private security agencies were registered and they are providing services to people across the state. Of these, former army officials owned 10.