In view of the seizure of huge cache of explosives originally meant for irrigation canal construction works from three alleged Maoist sympathisers in Burgampadu mandal on Thursday, the police have stepped up surveillance across the Palvancha sub-division to prevent the explosives from falling into the “wrong hands.”
The move assumed significance in the backdrop of the widespread use of explosive materials by the firms executing civil works pertaining to the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project.
The rocky terrain at some construction sites of the proposed project necessitated extensive use of explosives to blast the rock and facilitate the civil works, sources said.
A police team led by Palvancha Circle Inspector of Police M. Ramesh arrested three Maoist sympathisers along with a huge cache of high intensity explosive materials, including 45 boosters and eight bundles of fuse wire, at Sarapaka on Thursday.
Detailed investigation
The trio were caught while allegedly trying to handover the explosive materials to “Maoist couriers” from Chhattisgarh, police sources said.
The Burgampadu police have launched a detailed investigation into the incident to ascertain as to how the trio managed to lay their hands on the high intensity explosive materials originally supplied for use in the ongoing canal construction works at Krishnasagar area.
Police are on the look out for a few others wanted in connection with the case, sources said.
Prevent pilferage
In the light of Thursday’s incident, the police mounted surveillance at the construction sites of the irrigation project and other major development works in the sub-division to prevent pilferage of explosive materials and check their unauthorised transport and storage.
The officials concerned are planning to hold a meeting with the licenced explosive dealers and the contractors concerned to insist that they strictly comply with the prescribed norms and maintain proper records of storage of explosive materials, police sources added.