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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
NIA joins probe into Maoist loot of 4,000 kg explosives in Odisha's Sundargarh
BHUBANESWAR: Two days after suspected left-wing extremists (LWEs) looted a huge cache of explosives from a truck headed to a stone quarry in Sundargarh district, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday joined the investigation considering the sensitive nature of the incident. While security forces in neighbouring states have doubled down on anti-Naxals operations by targeting and eliminating key leadership of the outlawed outfit, the loot has come as a worry since Maoists operating in Jharkhand's Saranda forests rely on improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to carry out attacks. This prompted Odisha Police and its anti-Naxal agency Special Operation Group (SOG) to launch a major flush-out drive along the bordering region. 'An NIA team visited Rourkela to investigate the incident. Preliminary probe suggests left-wing extremists operating from Saranda forests in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand were involved in the loot of the blasting explosives,' western range DIG, Brijesh Rai told mediapersons. Sources said looted explosives weighed about 4,000 kg. There were about 200 boxes consisting of blasting explosives. Each box had about nine gelatin sticks and weighed about 20 to 25 kg. 'As vigorous anti-Naxal operations are continuing in Chhattisgarh, the ultras are wary that security forces' next target could be their stronghold in Saranda forest,' said a senior police officer.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
NIA launches probe into hijacking of explosives-laden truck
1 2 Bhubaneswar/Rourkela: National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday launched a probe into the hijacking of a truck carrying four tonnes of explosive materials by Maoists in Sundargarh district. Agencies are trying to retrieve the gelatin sticks that were there in the truck, hijacked on Tuesday, amid concerns it could be used to target personnel engaged in anti-Maoist operations. "The NIA is conducting a preliminary inquiry about the circumstances leading to the incident. Security personnel of Odisha and neighbouring Jharkhand, and CRPF have been jointly working on the case. We have intensified patrolling and set up checkpoints at key locations, bordering Jharkhand," DIG (western range) Brijesh Rai said. On Tuesday morning, around 25-30 armed Maoists stormed the stone quarry under K Balang police station limits in Rourkela, near Saranda forests, bordering Jharkhand. They hijacked the truck along with the driver. The Maoists released him about 1 km from the quarry after unloading the explosive materials near Saranda forests. The incident occurred hours after top Maoist leader Tulsi Bhuinya was gunned down in Palamu district in Jharkhand. "This is a matter of grave concern as these explosives could be potentially used for anti-national activities, particularly against security forces engaged in anti-Maoist operations. We are working closely with the NIA and Jharkhand police to track and recover the stolen materials," another senior police officer told TOI. According to sources, the NIA has formed special teams to track the movement of Maoist groups in the region and recover the stolen explosives. A high-level meeting was conducted between NIA officials and senior police officers from Odisha and Jharkhand to coordinate the investigation and develop strategic responses. DGP Y B Khurania, who chaired the meeting, has been camping in Sundargarh along with other senior officers since Wednesday. The Maoist incident comes after prolonged period of reduced LWE activity in Odisha. The situation is particularly concerning as the ministry of home affairs had declared Sundargarh Maoist-free in April 2024.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
NIA begins probe into loot of explosives by Maoists
Rourkela: A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday started a probe into the loot of huge quantity of explosives by Maoists in Sundargarh district, an officer said. Senior NIA officers, including a DIG, SP and Additional SP visited Rourkela. The NIA has started the investigation into the loot of around 200 packets of gelatin being transported to a stone quarry at Banko in Sundargarh district on Tuesday by the Maoists. 'The Odisha police is providing all required assistance to the NIA for undertaking the probe into the loot of explosives,' DIG, Western Range, Brijesh Rai told reporters in Rourkela. He said the police have registered a case in this regard based on the statement of the driver of the truck which was transporting the explosive materials. The loot took place in the area in close vicinity to Saranda forests in adjacent West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, considered the hotbed of Maoists. The armed miscreants reportedly threatened the driver at gunpoint and asked him to drive into a nearby forest, where a group of Maoists looted approximately four tonnes of explosives. Though the truck carrying the material was recovered during a search operation on Wednesday, there was no trace of the explosives, an officer said. The truck driver said the Hindi-speaking Maoists spared him after he pleaded for mercy. Police sources said there were indications of involvement of Jharkhand-based Maoists in the explosive loot incident. The DIG said the Maoists might have entered Sundargarh from neighbouring Jharkhand. Rai said as per the direction of DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, who visited the spot on Wednesday, the police have launched a search operation. On Wednesday, Khurania along with IGP (Operation) Deepak Kumar, DIG Brijesh Rai and Sundargarh SP Pratyush Diwakar held a series of closed-door meetings and reviewed the situation. Meanwhile, the Odisha police, along with security personnel of Jharkhand and CRPF, intensified operations on Odisha-Jharkhand border. The DGP has directed strict adherence to the existing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) or guidelines regarding security measures for agencies engaged in trade of explosives. He also ordered a security audit of all such centres.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
NIA takes over probe into explosives loot by ‘Maoists' in Odisha
The National Investigation Agency has taken over the investigation into the loot of a large cache of explosives by 'suspected Maoists' earlier this week. This comes as police and security agencies continue to look for the explosives, looted from a stone quarry in the state's Sundargarh district earlier this week. According to the police, an armed group of 25-30 'Maoists' looted four tonnes of explosive gelatin sticks from a stone quarry under K Balanga police limits in Rourkela police district Tuesday while an explosive-laden truck was on its way to the stone quarry at Banko. The quarry is inside the Saranda forests — an area bordering Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district. The group allegedly forced the driver to operate the vehicle but eventually released him. Odisha has witnessed significant fall in Maoist-related activities over the years with the presence of left-wing extremists limited to a few pockets only. Police sources said there was no Maoist-related activities in Sundargarh districts in the past 10 years. The Odisha Police, in coordination with the Jharkhand police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, have launched search operations. The truck has been found but explosives are yet to be traced, police said. 'According to the first information received from the driver, those who looted the explosives were Maoists. Based on the information received from the driver, we have lodged an FIR. The investigation is continuing and operational procedures are being followed in the area,' said Deputy Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Brijesh Rai. Odisha Director General of Police YB Khurania visited the site and held meetings with senior police officers to monitor the operations. The DGP also directed police to step up security measures in vulnerable areas. Police sources said a NIA team also reached Rourkela Thursday and launched a probe into the matter. The NIA team is expected to visit the site of the loot, and is likely to question the driver of the vehicle. The border area with Jharkhand has been sealed by the security agencies. Police sources said instruction has also been issued to the local police to probe the licence details and other information related to the stone quarry. According to the White Paper published by the state's home department, only four Maoist-related incidents were reported in 2024 compared to nine such incidents in 2023. As part of the anti-Maoist operations, as many as six extremists were killed by security personnel and eight others were arrested in 2024. Meanwhile, 24 ultras surrendered.
The Print
3 days ago
- The Print
NIA starts probe into loot of huge quantity of explosives by Maoists in Odisha's Sundargarh
'The Odisha police is providing all required assistance to the NIA for undertaking the probe into the loot of explosives,' DIG, Western Range, Brijesh Rai told reporters at Rourkela. Senior NIA officers including a DIG, SP and Additional SP visited Rourkela. The NIA has started an investigation into the loot of around 200 packets of gelatin being transported to a stone quarry at Banko in Sundergarh district on Tuesday by Maoists. Bhubaneswar/Rourkela, May 29 (PTI) A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday started an investigation into the loot of huge quantity of explosives by Maoists in Odisha's Sundargarh district, an officer said. He said the police have registered a case in this regard based on the statement of the driver of the truck which was transporting the explosive materials. The loot took place in the area in close vicinity of Saranda forests in adjacent West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, considered the hotbed of Maoists. The armed miscreants reportedly threatened the driver at gunpoint and asked him to drive into a nearby forest, where a group of Maoists looted approximately four tonne of explosives. Though the truck carrying the material was recovered during a search operation on Wednesday, there was no trace of the explosives, an officer said. The truck driver said the Hindi-speaking Maoists spared him after he pleaded for mercy. Police sources said that there were indications of involvement of Jharkhand-based Maoists in the explosive loot incident. The DIG said the Maoists might have entered Sundergarh from neighbouring Jharkhand. The place of loot was in close proximity to West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand. Rai said as per the direction of DGP Y B Khurania, who visited the spot on Wednesday, the police have launched a search operation. On Wednesday, DGP Khurania along with IGP (Operation) Deepak Kumar, DIG (Western Range) Brijesh Kumar Rai and Sundargarh SP Pratyush Diwakar held a series of closed-door meetings and reviewed the situation. Meanwhile, the Odisha police along with security personnel of Jharkhand and CRPF have intensified operations in the Odisha-Jharkhand border area. PTI COR AAM AAM RG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
