Crackdown After Maoist Explosives Heist: 3.2 Tonnes Recovered in Joint Security Operation

Crackdown After Maoist Explosives Heist: 3.2 Tonnes Recovered in Joint Security Operation

As part of an ongoing crackdown on Maoist-linked activities, security forces have recovered another 700 kg of explosive materials from the Saranda forest near the Odisha-Jharkhand border. This latest discovery, made during intensified combing operations on Wednesday, adds to the expanding cache of weapons and explosives uncovered following last week’s major looting incident in Sundargarh district.

With this recovery, the total quantity of explosives confiscated has climbed to nearly 3.2 tonnes out of the 4 tonnes looted by Maoists on May 28. As per reports, the explosives were recovered by a joint team of the CRPF, SOG, and COBRA forces, who have been scouring forested regions in both states following credible intelligence inputs.

On May 28th, a group of 25–30 armed Maoists hijacked a truck carrying four tonnes of explosives from a stone quarry in Sundargarh district. The truck was subsequently driven into the dense Saranda forests of Jharkhand, a known stronghold of Maoist activities. The driver was released unharmed after the explosives were offloaded. Nearly 150 packets of gelatin sticks and other high-intensity explosives were hijacked. The theft raised major security concerns due to the materials’ potential use in large-scale attacks.

In response, a coordinated joint operation was launched involving the Odisha Police, Special Operations Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF), India Reserve Battalion (IRB), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jharkhand’s elite Jaguars unit. On June 2, 2025, authorities announced the recovery of an additional 2.5 tonnes of explosives, bringing the total seized to roughly 50% of the amount looted. The operation was not without challenges. Security forces encountered resistance, including a firefight with Maoists and the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED), which left a CRPF constable injured.

A four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was set up, and the NIA was called in, viewing the incident as a national security threat. Initial findings indicate that the quarry operator failed to inform local police about the explosives shipment, violating security protocols. Additionally, the removal of the digital video recorder has hindered the investigation. The truck owner and driver were detained, and Shravan Agrawal, the owner of the warehouse supplying the explosives, was arrested after multiple rounds of interrogation.

Authorities are continuing search operations to recover the remaining explosives and prevent their misuse. The situation underscores the persistent threat posed by Maoist insurgents in the region and the ongoing efforts by security forces to counteract their activities.