India, April 3 -- Gold bars weighing 7.2 kg and estimated to be valued at around Rs.11.16 crore were recovered from a Maoist hideout busted in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur on March 31, officials said, calling it a significant seizure during the anti-insurgency operations.

Police said the recovery was made during a search operation in a forested area following specific intelligence inputs about the hideout. Surrendered Maoists told investigators that after Maoist Rupesh's surrender, a substantial quantity of cash and gold was moved to Bijapur for insurgent commander Paparao. Police subsequently questioned more Maoists for nearly 10 days before busting the hideout.

Police said the authenticity, purity, and origin of the gold was being verified....