PALAKKAD: Police in Palakkad have launched a high-level investigation after seizing a massive consignment of explosives that was being smuggled across the state border hidden inside a watermelon vehicle. A total of 18,000 gelatin sticks and 4,800 detonators were recovered from a pickup van travelling from Tamil Nadu to Thrissur district in Kerala. The explosives were concealed beneath sacks of watermelon. The driver, Senthil Kumar (48), a native of Tamil Nadu, was arrested by the Palakkad Town South Police.
The police intercepted the vehicle near the Medical College at around 8.30 pm on Wednesday after it failed to stop despite repeated signals. On inspection, officers found watermelon sacks stacked on top, while 90 boxes of explosives were hidden underneath and covered with tarpaulin. The unexpected recovery of such a huge quantity of high-explosive material has put the police and security agencies on maximum alert. While initial assessments suggest the explosives were meant for rock quarrying, authorities have launched a detailed probe to determine whether there were deeper motives behind the undocumented transportation.
Central agencies are also closely monitoring the case. During questioning, the driver claimed he was unaware of the explosives’ final destination and said he had been instructed to hand over the vehicle to another person at a specified location. Police believe these points to a larger organised network, where drivers act merely as “links” and do not know each other. The Anti-Terrorism Squad and Special Branch of Kerala police have intensified their investigation. Given the risks involved, the explosives were examined in the presence of the fire brigade. Forensic and ballistic experts are expected to arrive on Thursday to collect scientific evidence.
Although the driver stated that the materials were intended for blasting at rock quarries, police remain unconvinced. Security agencies are alarmed by the sheer volume of explosives recovered in a busy urban area. Central agencies have begun parallel inquiries to determine whether there is any terror-related angle. Preliminary information indicates the consignment originated in Coimbatore and was allegedly bound for quarry sites in Thrissur. However, investigators suspect the explosives were being transported illegally without valid documentation and may be part of a wider conspiracy. More arrests are expected as the probe progresses.
Police officials expressed shock that such a large stockpile of explosives managed to reach the heart of Palakkad city without detection. Forensic and ballistic teams will conduct further examinations at the site. Authorities are now working to identify all individuals involved in sourcing, transporting, and receiving the explosive materials.
Investigations revealed that the illegal items were hidden among watermelon sacks brought from Thuppur in Dharapuram, Tamil Nadu. The operation was led by Inspector Vipin Kumar along with a special squad formed under the district police chief. The interception took place at 8.30 pm on Wednesday. The vehicle had been fully covered with tarpaulin, and another sheet was used to conceal the explosive boxes beneath the fruit sacks. It took police nearly two hours to unload the cargo and inspect each box.
The Palakkad Fire Department was summoned to ensure safety during the inspection. Officials suspect the explosives were intended to be smuggled from Tamil Nadu to either Kozhikode or Thrissur. While such materials are commonly used for blasting rocks in quarries, police warned that they can also be misused for other dangerous purposes. Authorities say the case is being treated with utmost seriousness, given the potential threat to public safety. Multiple agencies are now coordinating to trace the supply chain and uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.
