In a significant breakthrough, law enforcement agencies have apprehended George Munda, a primary accomplice in the audacious looting of 5 tons of explosives from the Banko mine near the Odisha-Jharkhand border.
The incident, which took place on May 27, 2025, involved 30 to 40 Maoists, including 10 to 15 armed with firearms, who threatened the driver of an explosives-laden vehicle at gunpoint before fleeing with the materials toward the Saranda forest.
Following the heist, the Odisha Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also launching a parallel probe. Investigations revealed that the entire operation was meticulously planned from a house near the mine, owned by George Munda, a local resident known for his opposition to the mine’s operations since its establishment.
Seizing an opportunity to disrupt the mine’s activities, Munda allegedly collaborated with Maoist groups, providing critical intelligence about the explosives’ arrival, which facilitated the loot.
The arrest of Munda marks a major success for the police, who have identified him as a key informant and aide to the Maoists. To date, authorities have recovered over 3.8 tons of the stolen explosives from the Odisha-Jharkhand border region, with efforts ongoing to retrieve the remaining quantity, estimated at over 1 ton. The operation underscores the continued challenges posed by Maoist activities in the region and the authorities’ resolve to curb such threats.
The police and NIA are intensifying their efforts to track down other individuals involved in the heist and to prevent the misuse of the remaining explosives.
This development sends a strong message to insurgent groups operating along the Odisha-Jharkhand border, as law enforcement agencies strengthen their crackdown on Maoist networks.
