In a significant breakthrough, the Tumudibandh Police in Odisha’s Kandhamal district seized approximately 10 tons of illegal explosives, marking a major crackdown on illicit trade.
The operation, conducted on August 15, 2025, during a routine vehicle check, initially led to the recovery of 2.5 tons of explosives, including gelatin, detonators, electric wires, codex, and batteries. Further investigation uncovered a larger cache of 8 tons in Jagannathpur village, Ganjam district, in a raid assisted by Chamakhandi Police.
The seized items also included ₹2.8 lakh in cash, six iPhones, a Mahindra Maxx pickup, and a personal car, while ₹1 lakh in online transactions were traced. Three individuals were arrested: Alok alias Albert Kumar Patra (18) from Taladantaling, Sorada; Hemant Sethi (31) from Ambapua, Gopalpur, Ganjam; and Shaktiranj Das (50) from Jaleshwar Mandir Pada, Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi.
Interrogation revealed that the explosives were sourced from Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, and the illegal operation had been running for two years without a license. The materials were stored in a cow shed owned by B. Mohan Reddy in Jagannathpur, rented by Hemant Sethi under the guise of poultry feed storage for one and a half years. Shockingly, the shed was located just 1 km from Jagannathpur Beat House and 4 km from Chamakhandi Police Station, raising questions about local oversight.
Baliguda Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Ramendra Prasad, IPS, addressed the media in a press conference, detailing the operation and lauding the Tumudibandh Police Station IIC Ashutosh Jena and his team for their vigilance.
