Explosives looted by Maoists recovered
Chaibasa: In a major breakthrough, Jharkhand and Odisha police, along with central security forces, have recovered 2.5 tonnes of explosives during a joint operation in the Saranda forest of West Singhbhum district, officials said on Tuesday.
The explosives were part of a cache looted by Maoists on May 27 from a stone quarry in Relahatu Yanko, located under Keblang police station in Odisha's Sundargarh district.
On May 30, an earlier operation had led to the recovery of 150 kg of the stolen explosives from the Tirilposhi area of the Saranda forest.
According to officials, around two tonnes of explosives still remain in Maoist possession, and an intensive search operation is going on.
The armed Maoist squad had earlier intercepted an explosive-laden van which was on the way to a quarry and diverted it into the dense Saranda forest, where they unloaded approximately 200 packets of explosives.
The incident triggered a heightened alert in both Odisha and Jharkhand. In addition to police efforts, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also launched an investigation, while Odisha Police had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case.
Police sources said a significant portion of the looted explosives had been buried underground by the Maoists in the Tirilposhi area under the Jaraikela police station. The recovery was made during a joint operation by Jharkhand Police, CRPF, Cobra Battalion, and Odisha Police.
Rourkela Police of Odisha confirmed the recovery via a post on its official social media handle.
The expansive Saranda forest continues to serve as a major Maoist hideout. However, sustained counterinsurgency operations over the past two years have pushed the extremists into smaller pockets of the region.
Maoists routinely plant explosives along forest routes to target police and paramilitary personnel. In the last two years, at least four security personnel and more than ten civilians have lost their lives in such landmine blasts.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Deep-rooted terror conspiracy': NIA charges Goldy Brar, 4 others in Gurugram club bombing case; probe on
NIA (ANI photo) NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency on Saturday filed a chargesheet against five individuals, including designated terrorist Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar, in connection with the twin bomb attacks on clubs in Haryana's Gurugram in December 2024. The chargesheet names Canada-based Goldy Brar, US-based Randeep Singh alias Randeep Malik, and three others, Sachin Taliyan, Ankit, and Bhawish. While Brar and Malik remain at large, the others have been arrested. The accused have been charged under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The attacks targeted the Warehouse Club and Human Club in Sector-29, Gurugram on December 10, 2024. According to the NIA, the bombings were part of a larger conspiracy by the proscribed terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) to incite communal tensions and destabilise peace in Haryana and nearby states. The investigation revealed that the plot was deep-rooted terror conspiracy, orchestrated by Goldy Brar and his associates as part of BKI's transnational network. The group is alleged to have been involved in fundraising through extortion, procurement of explosives and weapons, and attempts to spread fear among the public with the aim of threatening India's sovereignty and economic security. The NIA has said that further investigations into the broader terror conspiracy are ongoing.
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
NIA chargesheets Goldy Brar, four others in 2024 Gurugram clubs bombing case
The National Investigation Agency ( NIA ) on Saturday filed a chargesheet against five accused, including Designated Individual Terrorist Goldy Brar , in the 2024 case relating to bomb attacks at two clubs in Gurugram , Haryana. Brar has been charged along with along with Sachin Taliyan, Ankit, Bhawish and US-based Randeep Singh alias Randeep Malik under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Arms Act, Explosives Substance Act, and UA(P) Act. Barring Goldy Brar and Randeep Malik, all others have been arrested in the case. The investigating agency found the accused to be involved in conspiracy to target Warehouse Club and Human Club in Gurugram's Sector 29 with bombs, as part of Babbar Khalistani International 's (BKI) larger conspiracy to spread communal disharmony and disrupt peace in Haryana and neighbouring regions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo The attack, perpetrated by members and cadres of the BKI terror outfit, took place on December 10 last year. "NIA investigations later revealed that the deep-rooted terror conspiracy was hatched by Goldy Brar and his associates," the agency said in a statement. Live Events As per NIA investigations, the terror syndicate is actively involved in extorting money, raising terror funds, procuring explosives and arms and ammunition, and promoting terror amongst the common people to threaten the integrity, security (including economic security) and sovereignty of the country. The anti-terror agency is continuing to probe the case.
India.com
20 minutes ago
- India.com
Chhattisgarh: Bijapur Encounter Enters Third Day; Two More Maoists Neutralised
New Delhi: Two Maoists were reportedly neutralised on Saturday in the ongoing anti-Naxal operation in Bijapur's Indravati National Park, which has entered its third day, with security forces intensifying their efforts against insurgents in the dense forest region. However, official confirmation of their identity is awaited. Automatic weapons were recovered from the slain militants, further underscoring the intensity of the battle, sources said. In the past two days, security forces successfully eliminated Sudhakar, a Central Committee Member of the CPI (Maoist), who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head. His death marks a significant blow to the Naxal leadership. Alongside him, Bhaskar, a senior Maoist cadre with a cumulative bounty of Rs 45 lakh, was also killed. Bhaskar was also known as Mailarapu Adellu. He was a Special Zonal Committee member of the Telangana State Committee and served as the Secretary of the Mancherial-Komarambheem division. His elimination is considered a major success in the ongoing crackdown against Maoist insurgency. Mailarapu Adelu, known by his aliases Bhaskar, Jangu Dada, and Mahesh, was a prominent figure within the banned CPI (Maoist) organisation. Holding a pivotal role in the Telangana State Committee, he also served as the secretary of the Mancherial–Kumuram Bheem-Asifabad (MKB) divisional committee, an area of strategic importance for Maoist activities in the region. Bhaskar (53) hailed from Pochera village in Boath mandal, located in Telangana's Adilabad district. His influence extended beyond regional operations, as he was instrumental in shaping the Maoist movement's outreach and organisational structure within Telangana. The operation, which has seen fierce exchanges of gunfire, remains active, with security forces maintaining their positions in the area. Reports indicate that the encounter has been ongoing since Friday night, with intermittent firing from both sides. Meanwhile, in Dantewada, seven Maoists, including two with bounties on their heads, have surrendered to authorities. Among them are Juglu alias Sundum Kowasi and Dasha alias Burku Podiyam, each carrying a reward of Rs 50,000. Their surrender is seen as a positive development in the broader effort to dismantle Naxal influence in the region. The battle in Bijapur's Indravati National Park continues, with security forces determined to root out remaining insurgents. The operation has already resulted in the deaths of four Maoists, including two top commanders, and authorities remain vigilant as they push forward in their mission to restore stability in the region.
