Nandigram, Nov 23 (IANS) Police seized a large cache of arms and ammunition from poll-bound Nandigram that flared up last year over the West Bengal government’s failed attempt to set up a petrochemical hub.Acting on a tip-off, the police found six pistols, maskets and 200 rounds of ammunition in Sarberia village, said East Midnapore district superintendent of police Ashok Prasad.

The seizure was made from the house of a woman, Halima Bewa, who has been detained for interrogation, he said.

By-elections will be held Dec 27 in the Nandigram assembly constituency after the resignation of Mohammed Ilyas of the Communist Party of India (CPI) due to his alleged involvement in a bribery scandal.

The region had become a hot-spot of violence last year after peasants, backed by the Trinamool Congress-led opposition parties, launched a sustained agitaiton against the petrochemical project. After much bloodletting, the state government abanoned the project.