Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police have successfully recovered 3,811.30 kg of explosives looted by armed individuals suspected to be Maoists in Sundargarh district. The main suspect has been identified as George Munda, alias Kulu, from Banko village under K Balang police station. This recovery follows a sustained investigation and operations conducted along the Odisha-Jharkhand border, with the arrest of the prime accused significantly strengthening the case.
The robbery took place on May 27, when a group of 10 to 15 armed individuals, including women, intercepted a vehicle transporting explosives from the Itma store to the Banko quarry. The assailants, who spoke in Hindi and Sadri and identified themselves as terrorists, diverted the explosives-laden vehicle into a forest, looted around 200 packets of CDET brand Explosive Prime (mainly gelatin sticks), released the driver, and fled the scene.
In response to the incident, the Rourkela Police launched a high-level investigation, forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the Additional Superintendent of Police. The investigation included forensic analysis, scrutiny of telecom data, and multiple interrogations to trace the perpetrators.
DIG (Western Range) Brijesh Ray confirmed Maoist involvement, stating that operatives from Jharkhand’s Saranda forest were responsible for the looting. The investigation revealed that George Munda, a resident of Kulu Munda village in Sundargarh, had conspired with the extremists by providing crucial logistical information. Munda had a longstanding opposition to the quarry’s operations and was found to have direct links with Maoist elements, frequently meeting them and playing a central role in planning the heist.
On May 30, during a combing operation near the Odisha-Jharkhand border, security forces engaged in a gun battle with Maoists and recovered a significant portion of the stolen explosives from a forest in Jharkhand, approximately three kilometres from the Odisha border.
Odisha Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania, along with senior officials, visited the site the day after the looting. A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also investigating the case in coordination with the state police.
So far, police have recovered 3.8 tonnes of the stolen explosives, and efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining materials and apprehend other suspects involved in the conspiracy.
