NIA gets 6-day custody of key ‘conspirator' in explosives loot
Considering the gravity of the offence, the NIA recently took over investigation from K Balang police.
On June 15, Rourkela police had arrested Maoist informer Munda (43) for allegedly collaborating with the rebels from Jharkhand in the looting of about 5,000kg of gelatin sticks from the quarry on May 27. About 3,800kg of explosives were subsequently recovered.
"NIA will interrogate Munda in their custody to establish the 'forward and backward' linkages related to the offence having multi-state ramification. Munda had several meetings with Maoist leader Anmol alias Lalchand Hembram before the explosives theft," a police source said.
The source added, "Given the Centre's target to wipe out Maoists from the country by March 2026, NIA's involvement in the investigation is essential to unravel a potential bigger anti-national crime plan of Maoists."
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