400 kg explosive, 1700 detonators seized in poll-bound Jharkhand

RANCHI: In a major haul, security forces seized 400 kg of local explosives and over 1,700 detonators during an anti-Naxal operation in poll-bound Jharkhand today.

The operation was carried out by the elite CoBRA commando troops of CRPF alongwith the Jharkhand 'Jaguars' police unit in the Bokakhar-Ranidah area of Latehar district early this morning.

According to officials, the seized items include 1,745 detonators, three gas cylinder based Improvised Explosive Devices of 50 kg each, a 5kg cane bomb, 400kg of urea mixed with petrol, 10kg of gun powder, nitro sulphide wighing approximately 1 kg, two large cutter machines, two drill machines, 400 syringes, tool boxes, electronic gadgets and 200 pressure cookers used to prepare IEDs.

"It is suspected that the Naxals would have used these explosives to target security forces and polling parties during the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state," a senior security officer said.

The joint forces have launched a search operation around this Naxal hideout, the officer said.

The state will go to polls in five phases starting November 25 and counting of votes will take place on December 23.