Security forces seize over two tonne of explosives stolen by Maoists in Odisha
Security forces have traced over 2.5 tonne of explosives stolen by Maoists from a quarry in Sundargarh district of Odisha on May 27.
The explosives, along with Maoist uniforms and other materials, were seized during a combing operation on the Gandhamardhan Hill range on the Balangir-Bargarh district boundary. The search was conducted jointly by the Special Operation Group (a security force raised to combat Left-wing extremists in Odisha), the CRPF, the Jharkhand Jaguars, and the District Voluntary Force.
The Sundargarh district police, which announced the seizure of 2.5 tonne of explosives on Monday, did not confirm if the entire stock of stolen explosives have been found.
On May 27, a van brought 200 packets of explosives to the Banko Stone Quarry in Sundargarh district. While the explosives were being unloaded, a group of armed men reached there, threatened the driver, took the van into a nearby forest and made away with all the explosives, say the Odisha police.
'Soon after the incident, a preliminary enquiry suggested the involvement of naxals active in the Saranda forest under West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand,' said the police.
Fearing that the stolen explosives could be used for subversive activities, Director-General of Police Y.B. Khurania rushed to Sundargarh district to assess the situation. A team from the National Investigation Agency also looked into the incident. Subsequently, a combing operation was launched.
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