Huge cache of explosives procured from Odisha seized in WB

Kolkata: The West Bengal CID has seized huge cache of explosives, including electric detonators and gelatin sticks, which were procured from Odisha in West Bengal’s Bankura district, a senior officer said on Thursday.

The explosives were recovered during a raid in Kastora village of Bankura district on Wednesday night.

Deputy Inspector General of West Bengal CID Nishad Parvez said 52,500 pieces of electric detonators, 106 carton of gelatin sticks, 6,650 kg of ammonium nitrate were seized during the raid.

“Also, an SUV car and a motorcycle, suspected to be used by the perpetrators have been seized,” Parvez said.

He said the seized items were procured from Odisha, Telangana and Jharkhand, and were likely to be used in illegal stone quarry.

“No one has been arrested so far. The raids are still on,” he said.

Earlier, a truck loaded with 1,000 kg of explosive substances (potassium nitrate) stored in 27 gunny bags was intercepted by the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal police at Tala Bridge in Chitpur area of Kolkata on March 9. The vehicle was coming from Odisha and heading towards North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

Three persons of Balasore district in Odisha have been arrested in this connection.

(with IANS inputs)