Ten single-barrel rifles without gunstock, supposedly belonging to the British period, were unearthed by workers at a construction site in Ashok Nagar of Kakinada in East Godavari on Monday.
According to the Kakinada II-Town police, workers at the site of construction (by KSR Infra) found the dump of rifles while digging pits for the foundation.
The site owners informed the police who took the rifles into possession and shifted them to the district armoury.
“Prima facie they appear to be ‘.303 Rifle Mark 4’ belonging to the British period. They are already condemned and were sent to the district armoury. However, the exact age and make of the rifles are yet to be established,” Kakinada II-Town sub-inspector B. Shankar told The Hindu .
“We were told by the locals that the roadside along which the rifles were found was once called the military road since it was used by the British military,” Mr. Shankar said.
The unearthed rifles have no stockings, forearm, grip or any other part except for the rusted metal part including the barrel. The rifles are about 3ft long. The port city had been an important centre during the British rule since mid 18th century.