Massive explosives haul in Telangana’s Banjar bordering Odisha

Reported by Ranjan Rath
Malkangiri, Jan 23:

Police today seized a tipper with a huge cache of explosives from Banjar in Khamam district in neighbouring Telengana, which shares borders with Odisha’s Malkangiri district and arrested three Maoist sympathisers.

The seized materials include 362 gelatin sticks, 380 detonators and 49 bundles of wires from the tipper, police sources said.

The seized explosives were being transported by a contractor identified as Amar engaged in road construction between Polanagaswar in Khamam district to Malkangiri in Odisha allegedly to be delivered to Maoists, police sources added.

Police suspect that the seized explosives were meant for use by Maoists for a major violent activity on Republic day. Maoists have given a call for observing Republic day as a black day in five south Odisha districts.

Following interrogation of the three arrested Maoist sympathisers, police has come to know that contractor Amar was the mastermind of the operation.

Telengana police has launched a massive manhunt for Amar, who is absconding.