Maoists from J'khand involved in explosive-laden truck theft: Police
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Bhubaneswar/Rourkela: Odisha police confirmed on Wednesday that Maoists from neighbouring Jharkhand were responsible for hijacking an explosive-laden truck from a stone quarry in K Balang area of Sundargarh district on Tuesday.
The incident marked a significant Maoist operation after an extended period of reduced LWE activity in Odisha, triggering apprehension of a disruption of the Centre's objective to establish a 'Maoist free' India by March 2026.
The daylight theft of four tonnes of gelatin sticks, which cops fear could be used against security personnel, has raised concerns as Sundargarh had been declared Naxal-free in April 2024.
DGP Y B Khurania, IG (operations) Deepak Kumar and special intelligence wing (SIW) DIG Kanwar Vishal Singh visited Rourkela to review the investigation. Odisha police have launched an extensive anti-Maoist search operation with the help of the neighbouring Jharkhand police and CRPF.
"The Naxals entered from neighbouring Jharkhand, given the Banko quarry's proximity to Maoist-active areas of West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand.
Joint anti-Maoist search operations are underway," DIG (western range) Brijesh Rai told TOI.
Rai mentioned that Sundargarh, free from Maoist activities and violence for over 10 years, was removed from the left-wing extremism (LWE) affected areas list and the Centre's security-related expenditure (SRE) scheme last year.
According to police reports, roughly 25 to 30 armed Naxals entered the quarry on Tuesday around 10 am, holding two labourers and a manager at gun-point after the explosives-laden lorry arrived.
The armed group compelled the driver to operate the vehicle under duress. They released him at Relhatu area under K Balang police limits around 5 pm. "They were speaking in Hindi and claimed to be Maoists. I pleaded for mercy. They spared me," said the truck driver, Debnath Toppo.
Police have sealed an explosive storage facility at Itma under Bargaon police limits in Sundargarh, which supplied the gelatin sticks to the Banko quarry. Security analysts criticised the SIW's performance. "Despite Sundargarh's removal from the LWE affected areas list and the SRE scheme, the special intelligence wing should have continued monitoring Maoist movements. They should not have lowered their guard.
Naxals must have conducted recce before striking," said S N Sahoo, a retired police officer. Records indicate a similar incident took place in 2012 when Maoists hijacked an explosive-laden van in Sundargarh district.
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