Maoists buried 2.5 tonnes of explosives to hide them from security forces
Some explosive gelatin sticks were seized from a Maoist hideout in a forest near Koida in Sundargarh district on the Odisha-Jharkhand border during a search operation Friday, Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Brijesh Rai said.
'To conceal explosives from aerial and ground surveillance, the Maoists buried the explosives underground. An intense search and intelligence inputs helped us to seize the explosives. Efforts are on to recover the remaining explosives,' said a senior police official.
Police will examine the seized materials to determine its composition and place of origin from where the consignment was sent, said police sources.
An armed group of 25-30 'Maoists' looted four tonnes of explosive gelatin sticks from an explosive-laden truck was on its way to a stone quarry at Banko on May 27. The quarry is inside the Saranda forests — an area bordering Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district.
A search operation was launched soon to track down the explosives.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Police instituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for the probe while the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which also launched a parallel probe into the incident, sent a team to the spot of the May 27 loot.
Odisha Director General of Police YB Khurania camped in Rourkela for two days and held multiple meetings with senior police officers to monitor operations to recover the looted explosives. The DGP had also directed police to step up security measures in vulnerable areas.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Kulgam encounter enters day 4: One terrorist neutralised, operation underway
Security forces are continuing their operation in the Akhal Devsar area of South Kashmir's Kulgam district for the fourth day. So far, one terrorist has been neutralised in the operation. The joint operation was carried out by the Indian Army, J&K police, CRPF, and the Special Operations Group (SOG).(ANI ) On Saturday, security forces neutralised one terrorist during a gunfight that continued overnight in the Akhal area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district, Chinar Corps said. The joint operation was carried out by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir police, CRPF, and the Special Operations Group (SOG). In a post on X, Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said, "OP AKHAL, Kulgam. Intermittent and intense firefight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact." "One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far. Operation continues," post added on X. In an earlier operation by the Indian Army's White Knight Corps in the Poonch sector on July 30, two terror operatives were neutralised while attempting to infiltrate across the LoC. In its post, the White Knight Corps said, " Operation Shivashakti. In a successful anti-infiltration operation, alert troops of the Indian Army eliminated two terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control. Swift action and accurate firepower thwarted the nefarious designs. Three weapons have been recovered. Synergistic and synchronised intelligence inputs from own intelligence units and JK Police led to a successful operation." On July 29, Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed Lok Sabha that the Lashkar-e-Taiba top commander Suleman, involved in the Pahalgam terror attack, was among the three terrorists killed by security forces during the Operation Mahadev in Jammu and Kashmir. " In the Operation Mahadev, Suleman alias Faizal..., Afghan and Jibran, these three terrorists were killed in a joint operation of the Indian Army, CRPF and J&K Police... Suleman was an A-category commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Afghan was an A-category Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist. And Jibran was also an A-grade terrorist... All three terrorists who killed our citizens in the Baisaran valley have been eliminated...," Shah said during the second debate on the Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha. The three terrorists were killed in Operation Mahadev in an intense firefight with security forces in the Harwan area near Dachigam National Park of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Indian Express
High Court quashes 35-year-old case against CRPF officer in Pattan
The Punjab and Haryana High Court bench of Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj has quashed a 35-year-old criminal case against a former Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer, calling the prosecution sanction 'flawed' and lacking supporting evidence. The FIR, registered in 1990 in Jammu and Kashmir's Pattan police station, had accused the officer of illegal custody and disappearance during anti-militancy operations. The case was filed under Sections 364 and 344 of the now-repealed Ranbir Penal Code, which governed Jammu and Kashmir at the time. Section 364 relates to kidnapping or abduction with intent to murder, while Section 344 deals with wrongful confinement for more than 10 days. Ajay Kumar Pandey, who had joined the CRPF as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in 1986, was posted in Baramulla district as part of a special task force. A local resident, Peerzada Gh. Mohd., alleged in his complaint that CRPF personnel had taken away his son, Peer Mohd. Shafi, and that his whereabouts were unknown. The FIR was registered on the basis of this complaint. But for years, the case saw no progress. It wasn't until 2007, 17 years later, that the Jammu and Kashmir government sought permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs to prosecute the officer. The central government gave its nod only in 2010, by which time two decades had passed since the alleged incident. The court noted that such prolonged delays could not be justified, especially when no fresh evidence had come to light. The officer challenged the prosecution sanction orders issued in 2010 and 2011, calling them arbitrary and factually flawed. His counsel argued that a 1992 Court of Inquiry conducted by the CRPF's 46th Battalion had found no evidence of his involvement. He had even appeared before the investigating officer at the time, contrary to claims that he did not cooperate with the probe. Further, the counsel pointed out that the officer's unit was not even deployed in the area where the alleged raid took place. The court noted that the complainant had wrongly implicated a decorated officer and that 'no raid was ever conducted by the petitioner.' Justice Bhardwaj came down heavily on the way the prosecution sanction was granted. It said such sanctions are not a 'mere formality,' but a serious legal safeguard meant to prevent baseless charges against government officials. In this case, the court said, the sanctioning authorities failed to explain why they ignored the Court of Inquiry's clean chit or what fresh material they relied on. 'There is no cogent and objective material… showing prima facie involvement of the petitioner,' the court observed. It also cited Supreme Court judgments that held prosecution sanctions invalid when there was an inordinate delay in seeking them. Referring to the 2002 Mahendra Lal Das v. State of Bihar case — where the FIR was quashed after a 13- to 15-year delay — the court said the present case, with a 35-year gap, was clearly in the same category. Finally, the court rejected the argument that only a full trial could reveal the truth. 'Acceptance of such an argument would render the entire sanction process meaningless and leave officials defenseless against malicious complaints,' the bench said.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Landmine blast kills railway staff, injures another in Odisha
Bhubaneswar/Rourkela: A railway employee on track inspection duty was killed and another wounded after a landmine allegedly planted by Maoists exploded Sunday morning along the Jharkhand border in Odisha's Sundargarh district, police said. Railway keyman Etwa Oram, 54, died in the blast while the injured was identified as Budhram Munda, 48. Both were from Sundargarh. "Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi has announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the deceased's family," CMO said in a statement. The blast occurred on the last day of Maoists' annual martyrs' week. Posters were recovered near the damaged track in which Maoists claimed responsibility for the explosion. ADG (anti-Naxal operations), Odisha, Sanjeeb Panda told TOI, "We suspect the blast was orchestrated by Maoists from neighbouring Jharkhand. We have already intensified combing operations in co-ordination with Jharkhand Police and CRPF." The explosion affected a section of the Bimalagarh (Odisha)-Kiriburu (Jharkhand) railway line, which exclusively serves goods trains. A senior railway official said, "Movement of goods trains on the route will resume only after police clearance." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Find These Bugs in Sulaymaniyah, Do Something Immediately Undo Sources said two explosions were heard near the tracks in the Saranda forest area between Karampada (Jharkhand) and Renjeda (Odisha), one on Saturday night and another Sunday morning. A police officer said Maoists planted landmines near the tracks, which might have been triggered when the railway employees stepped on them. DIG (western range) Brijesh Kumar Rai said the area had been secured and bomb disposal squads were checking for additional explosives. This marks the second suspected Maoist attack in Sundargarh within three months. On May 27, Maoists allegedly stole 5,000kg of gelatin sticks from a local stone quarry, which police later recovered. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
