Punjab Police recover huge cache of arms, ammunitions on eve of crucial poll

Police in Punjab recovered huge cache of arms and ammunitions from a canal on Tuesday on the eve of a crucial poll, as voters of 13 parliamentary constituencies of the state prepare to participate in the Lok Sabha polls .

Acting on a tip off by a diver, police along with top brass officials visited the canal in Malerkotla district in Punjab from where arms and explosive were recovered.

"In an operation that was carried out, we recovered 10 rocket launchers, one AK 47, two sten guns, one carbine and one IED (Improvised Explosive Device) which is used as an explosive. And these are live," said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Satvir Singh Atwal.

Some of the rifles recovered bore stickers of banned Sikh militant group, Babbar Khalsa International.

Following the recovery Punjab police have intensified vigil and security .

A total of 89 constituencies in seven states and two Union Territories (UTs) are set for polls in the seventh phase of a nine-phased general election that will decide the fate of over 1.2 billion people.

Security and election officials were deployed on Tuesday at thousands of polling booths. Electronic machines were thoroughly examined and voter cards were being checked to ensure a smooth day of polling.