Police in East Jaintia Hills district have arrested six persons and seized a total of 1,525 kg of explosives from a storehouse and a vehicle.
Acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted an Assam-registered (AS 01 DY 6131 ) vehicle carrying the explosives at Kongong and nabbed two persons on Tuesday evening. Ten cartons containing 250 kg of explosives (2,000 gelatin sticks and 1,000 live detonators) were recovered.
Following interrogation of the arrested persons, a police team comprising top officers raided a hideout at 5 Kilo under the Khliehriat Police Station and recovered more explosives. Four other persons were also arrested in this connection.
Approximately 1,275 kg of explosives were seized at the secret storehouse. These explosives were found concealed in 51 cartons of nitroglycerin, an active ingredient used in making explosives.
East Jaintia Hills SP Deepak Kumar Palecha said over phone that the district police are investigating the seizure. He suspects that the same kind of explosives were used in the recent low-intensity blast inside a market in the district. One shop was damaged in the blast, but there were no casualties. The banned HNLC claimed responsibility for the explosion.
Palecha said that the bomb disposal team and the forensic laboratory in the State capital are yet to submit their report after analysing the blast site.
He further stated that a case under the Explosives Act and other relevant sections of law has been registered against the six arrested persons and a probe is on.
Explosives in the district are available as these are required during blasting processes of mining. The active ingredients for making explosions are procured by individuals having requisite licences. However, as mining has been banned in the State since April, 2014, availability and storage of these explosions pose a threat to the security scenario.
