In a major breakthrough in the Sundargarh explosives theft case, security forces have seized an additional 700 kg of explosive materials from a Maoist hideout in the Saranda forest near the Odisha-Jharkhand border, bringing the total recovery to over 3.2 tonnes of the 4 tonnes looted last week.
The operation, conducted by a joint team of the CRPF, Special Operations Group (SOG), and COBRA commandos, follows sustained intelligence-led combing efforts in dense forest regions across Odisha and Jharkhand.
Background of the Case:
The crisis began on May 28, when armed Maoists hijacked a truck transporting licensed commercial explosives near the Banko stone quarry in Sundargarh district’s K. Balang area. The loot involved around 150 packets of gelatin sticks and other high-intensity materials, triggering alarm bells in security agencies about the potential for major terror operations.
In response, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was roped in, treating the incident as a national security threat. The truck owner and driver were detained, while Shravan Agrawal, the warehouse owner who supplied the explosives, was arrested following interrogation.
