Four Maoists held with 300 kg explosive

Four suspected Maoists carrying 300 kg ammonium nitrate, a chemical used in manufacturing explosives, were today arrested from Chakai in Bihar's Jamui district bordering Jharkhand, police said.

On a tip-off, the police intercepted a vehicle coming from Jasidih in Jharkhand and seized six sacks, each containing 50 kg of the chemical, a salt of ammonia and nitric acid.

The chemical was probably being taken to Charka Pathar in Jharkhand for the Maoists, sources said.

Of the four, Nageswar Das and Bideshi Paswan were known Maoists while others could be their associates, the sources said.