The police on Tuesday seized a cache of lethal weapons during cordon and search operations in Mangod Basti in Hyderabad, which was the scene of communal violence last week.

Announcing this at a press conference, Additional Commissioner of Police A K Khan said that the police found swords, knives, sickles and other lethal weapons during the pre-dawn search at several houses in the locality.

Cases have been registered under the Arms Act though no arrests have been made so far.

In all, about 100 to 150 houses were searched and efforts were on to identify those who had stored the weapons.

Residents from Mangod Basti were allegedly involved in communal disturbances on June five in which Mohammed Ghouse, a local leader of the Majlis-e-Ittehaadul Muslimeen, lost his life.

Even adjoining areas were affected when the violence spilled over to June six during Ghouse's funeral procession.

ACP Khan said 16 persons were arrested in connection with the murder and efforts were on to nab three other absconding accused.

The police also arrested 15 persons allegedly involved in arson and other violent incidents on June six while a search was on to nab a dozen other accused.

The police registered a total of 20 cases of arson and violence in four police stations - Habeeb Nagar, Asif Nagar, Humayun Nagar and Mangalhat - even as the situation began returning to normal on Saturday.

However, the deployment extra policemen, including members of the Rapid Action Force, would continue as a precautionary measure.

On June 6, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ordered a judicial inquiry into the incidents.