Security Forces Recover 2.5 Tonnes Explosives Looted by Maoists in Odisha

In Bhubaneswar, the security forces on Monday recovered more than 2.5 tonnes of explosives that had been looted by Maoists in Sundergarh district of Odisha, a senior police officer said.

The security personnel of the state's Special Operation Group , CRPF , the elite Jaguar force of Jharkhand and Sundergarh's District Voluntary Force were a part of the joint operation in the Odisha-Jharkhand border recovered more than 2.5 tonnes of explosives which was looted by Maoists from K Balang area of Sundergarh district on May 27, the officer told PTI over phone.

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"While some of the explosives were buried under the earth, others could be located from underneath rocks," the officer engaged in the operation said, he also added that this is the search operation had begun from May 28, which is one day after the Maoists had looted the explosives when they were being transported to stone quarry for blasting purpose.

While the officer did not disclose the exact location of the recovery of the explosives in the jungle, he mentioned that the place was part of the Saranda forest and in Jharkhand - some distance away from the Odisha border.

Previously on Friday, the security personnel had recovered some amount of explosives looted by Maoists after a fierce gun fight was held with the red rebels.

About 200 packets of explosives of about 4 tones -mostly gelatin sticks- were looted at gun-point by Maoist in K Balang area.

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According to reports, the explosives were seized in the Tirilposh area close to Saranda forest, on the inter-state border between Odisha and Jharkhand.

Police have stated that around 30 armed Maoists from Jharkhand seized a truck laden with the gelatin sticks and held the driver at gunpoint to accomplish this task.

A day after the looting, Odisha DGP, Y B Khurania, and several other high-ranking police officials visited the location, and an NIA team began investigating the matter. The Odisha Police have also set up an SIT to look into the incident.

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