Big haul of explosives seized in Pakur

In the largest ever recovery of explosives in district, Pakur police on Monday seized 10,000 gelatin sticks and detonators each and 65 sacks of ammonium nitrate in a raid conducted at Saharpur village under the Hiranpur police station area. Police said that it was the third recovery of explosives from the district in a month.

The seizure was made from the house of Bhagat Murmu located inside a forested area on the Pakur-Sahebganj border. The area is very close to the Bangladesh borders as well.

Pakur SP Shailendra Barnwal stated that investigation was going on in the case adding that DGP DK Pandey has stated that the anti-terrorist squad would also be involved in the process.

Barnwal, however, said the accused Murmu has fled from the spot adding raids were being carried out to nab him. He pointed out that village was located in a remote area.  He added that police are also trying to identify the kingpin of the case and his network.

It may be stated here that over the years several terrorist cadres belonging to the Jamat Ul Mujahiddin Bangladesh (JMB) have been arrested from various parts of the district.

The Kolkata police had arrested one JMB member from the district this month.

Police suspects that the explosives could also go into the hands of either the terrorists or the extremist. It may be noted here that there are several stone crusher units in the area which often use illegally procured explosives.

Police said they would be keeping a watch over the situation and also appealed that people should not participate in smuggling of explosives.

Notably, on July 23 Pakur police had seized seven sacks full of gelatin sticks and one sack containing detonators from Basmata village under Malpahari police station area.

The explosives were smuggled into Jharkhand from West Bengal for use in various stone mines. Two persons namely Mehrul Shiekh and Saraam Sheikh were in the raid.