Authorities have sealed the Odisha-Jharkhand border and intensified security operations following the looting of four tonnes of explosives in Sundargarh district.
Suspected Maoists intercepted a truck transporting the materials and fled into nearby forested areas, prompting an urgent response from law enforcement.
A high-level meeting, chaired by Odisha DGP YB Khurania, focused on strengthening security protocols along vulnerable routes. A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team has also arrived to spearhead combing operations in coordination with state forces.
While the stolen truck has been recovered, the explosives remain missing, raising concerns about their potential misuse. Security alerts have been issued across the region, and mining companies have been instructed to enhance surveillance of their logistics.
Authorities are closely monitoring movements along the border, ensuring that extremist elements do not transport the stolen materials beyond the region. The incident has heightened concerns over increasing Maoist activity in western Odisha, triggering an urgent effort to contain further threats.