The CRPF personnel on a routine combing operation on the high-security Rajpath discovered 50 cartridges, including 40 live ones, in a dustbin, on Monday.
Police sources said a bag containing 50 cartridges, including 40 live bullets, used in medium machine guns was discovered by a team of A-89 company of CRPF personnel during routine patrolling on Rajpath. The bag was found in a blue dustbin behind Shastri Bhavan, just a kilometre from Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Parliament House complex.
“CRPF head constable Santosh Rawade and cadet Vinay Kumar found the suspicious material in the dustbin in enclosure no. 32 behind Shastri Bhavan around 12.30 pm on Monday. They immediately informed their inspector who in turn called the Parliament Street police station,” a police official said.
A team of crime investigating unit and Parliament Street police examined the site. The news of recovery was also conveyed to central intelligence agencies after which the bullets were handed over to the police.
Police officials said the MMG cartridges and .12 bore cartridges were packed in separate bags which were kept in a container. “The recovered bullets are of four different makes and it is not clear who left them at such a sensitive location. The CCTV footage from the area is being scrutinised to get some leads. A case under the Arms Act has been registered at the Parliament Street police station,” the official said.