Suspected Naxals loot 1.5 tonne of explosives in Odisha, police on high alert

A group of 30 to 40 suspected Naxals looted a truck carrying approximately 1.5 tonnes of explosives in Odisha’s Sundergarh district on Tuesday. The incident has put both Odisha and Jharkhand police forces on high alert.

The truck, which was transporting explosives from an ammunition warehouse near Itma under Badagaon police station to the Langalkata stone quarry, was intercepted around 9 AM near the Langalkata area under K Balang police limits. Armed individuals stopped the vehicle, took the driver hostage, and forcibly diverted the truck towards the dense forests of Saranda.

Sources confirmed that the truck was passing through the K Balang police station area en route to the Banko stone quarry when the incident occurred. The abductors later released the driver unharmed, according to police.

Following the incident, local police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel launched a large-scale combing operation to trace the stolen explosives and nab the culprits. However, authorities called off the search operation after nightfall due to safety risks in the hilly and forested terrain.

The theft has sparked serious concerns over security in the Maoist-affected regions of Odisha. Authorities have stepped up surveillance in vulnerable areas and are intensifying efforts to recover the looted explosives and prevent any potential misuse.

“There is no evidence of Maoist involvement yet, but no angle has been ruled out. The enquiry is ongoing. The exact quantity of stolen explosives is not confirmed yet. We will share the details after completing the investigation,” said Superintendent of Police, Rourkela.