Odisha Police have seized nearly 9 tonnes of explosives and 4,000 detonators from Tumudibandha in Kandhamal district, raising serious concerns about a possible nexus between Maoist groups and mining companies.
The seizure follows similar discoveries in the Gumma Reserve Forest last month, where 600 detonators of the same brand were recovered from a Maoist dump. Two individuals have been detained for interrogation, and authorities are now investigating the source and intended destination of the explosives.
“We suspect that explosives meant for mining operations were illegally diverted to Maoist groups,” said Sanjeeb Panda, Additional Director General of Police (Anti-Naxal Operations). He confirmed that the materials were stored unlawfully and may have originated from commercial mining firms operating in the region.
This isn’t the first such incident. Earlier this year, Maoists allegedly stole a large cache of explosives from a stone quarry in Sundargarh district. Joint combing operations by Odisha and Jharkhand forces later recovered much of the stolen material from the Saranda forest.
The investigation is ongoing, with police examining procurement records and supply chains linked to mining operations in Kandhamal and surrounding districts.
