Ranchi, May 15: A huge cache of explosives was recovered last night from forests in Latehar's Herhanj area, around 25km from Palamau's Panki where bypoll is scheduled for tomorrow.
Police today said that a probe was on to ascertain if the explosives were meant for causing any disturbance during polling in the nearby Assembly constituency.
Four pressure cooker bombs, nine tiffin bombs, three cylinder bombs and a large number of bullets, along with iron pipes and acid used for making explosives, were found from different parts of Serendag-Pundru forests, during combing last evening.
A bomb squad from the capital defused the bombs today. Three persons have been detained for interrogation.
"A search operation was launched early in the morning yesterday following a tip-off. The search team, comprising state police and CRPF personnel, continued the drive till late evening," said Palamau range DIG Saket Kumar Singh.
Allaying fears, the DIG said that a CRPF camp was already based in Panki and a large number of policemen had been posted there to ensure peaceful polling tomorrow. "It would be too early to jump to the conclusion that the explosives were meant for disturbing the bypoll. But, we are carefully probing the case from different angles. We have taken adequate measure to avert any untoward incident."
In a separate incident, police last evening recovered over Rs 6.80 lakh in cash from an SUV during a vehicle checking drive in Godda, which also votes tomorrow.
"Income tax sleuths are conducting probe. Eight persons occupying the SUV at the time of the seizure have been detained," said Godda SP Sanjeev Kumar.
The SP added that police were trying to find out if the amount was meant for helping any candidate contesting the Godda Assembly bypoll.