In a major breakthrough in the Maoist looting of explosives in Odisha’s Sundargarh district, police have arrested Shravan Agrawal, the owner of the Badgaon-based explosives warehouse.
His arrest marks a turning point in the probe into the May 28 looting of nearly 4 tonnes of explosives by Maoists—an incident that has raised serious national security alarms.
According to reports, Maoists intercepted a truck carrying commercial explosives to a stone quarry near Banko under K. Balang police limits, making off with about 150 packets of gelatin sticks. The heist occurred in a forested area, indicating it was pre-planned with knowledge of the explosives’ route.
Agrawal was taken into custody after sustained interrogation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which had earlier detained him at Raghunathpali police station in Rourkela. The truck driver involved in transporting the explosives has also been detained. Authorities had already sealed the warehouse last week after the incident gained nationwide attention.
Police sources said that three trucks had left the warehouse on May 27, the day of the loot. While one was looted by Maoists, Agrawal allegedly misled investigators by claiming that the other two trucks had already completed delivery. However, on Sunday, police recovered two mini-trucks loaded with explosive packets from the Balughat area in Rourkela, raising suspicions of a larger illegal trade.
Investigators now believe that the two trucks may have been deliberately kept hidden, possibly to sell the explosives to stone quarries and mining operations at a higher price. Initial investigation suggests that Shravan Agrawal was involved in the illegal supply of explosives for financial gain.
