Kandhamal Police Bust Illegal Explosives Racket, Seize 10 Tons of Materials

Phulbani: In a major crackdown, Tumudibandh police in Kandhamal district have busted a large illegal explosives trafficking racket with links spanning from Berhampur in Odisha to Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. Nearly 10 tons of explosive materials were seized and three persons arrested in connection with the case.

Acting on a tip-off, a police patrol team intercepted a pickup van at Rampur Chhak near Tumudibandh on Sunday night. On inspection, officials recovered 6.9 tons of gelatin sticks, 2.5 tons of Apex boosters, 4,000 detonators, 43 electric wires, 38 cordex, two batteries, ₹2.80 lakh in cash, and ₹1 lakh transferred online.

The driver, Alok alias Albut Kumar Patra of Taladantalingi village in Ganjam, was arrested on the spot. He revealed that the consignment was meant for Shaktiranjana Das of Jaleshwar Mandirpada near Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi. The explosives had reportedly been sourced from Hemant Sethi of Ambapua near Berhampur, who procured the materials illegally from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.

Based on leads, police raided Hemant’s godown at Jagannathpur village under Chamakhandi police limits near Berhampur, where the explosives had been stored before being supplied to different districts. None of the accused could produce valid documents.

According to Baliguda SDPO Ramendra Prasad and Tumudibandh IIC Ashutosh Jena, the racket had been supplying explosives to stone quarries for nearly two years. However, given the Maoist presence in Tumudibandh and Kotagarh areas along the Kandhamal–Kalahandi border, police have not ruled out the possibility that some consignments may have reached left-wing extremists.

All three accused were forwarded to court on Monday. A case has been registered at Tumudibandh police station, and further investigation is underway.