A recent joint security operation along the Odisha-Jharkhand border has resulted in the recovery of a fresh tranche of approximately 2.5 tonnes of explosives, primarily in the form of industrial gelatine sticks, which had been looted by members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) outfit.
These explosives were found stacked both along the forest paths and hidden under rocks and earth in the hilly and challenging terrain of the dense Saranda forest, mainly within the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, with a smaller portion discovered on the Sundargarh side of Odisha under the Rourkela Police District (RPD) jurisdiction.
The recovery comes as part of an ongoing, intensified search operation initiated immediately after the hijacking and looting of a truck carrying about four tonnes of explosives on May 27, 2025, from the Banko forest area under K Balang police station limits. The truck was en route to a stone quarry when around 30 armed Maoists, reportedly from Jharkhand, held the driver at gunpoint and seized the vehicle near the Saranda forest. The swift response by security forces—including the Special Operation Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF), CRPF, Jharkhand’s Jaguar, and CoBRA units—limited the ability of the Maoists to disperse or safely stash the explosives deep within the forest, resulting in the recovery of most of the stolen material near the border area.
Authorities noted that the explosives were intended for legitimate quarrying activities but had been diverted by the Maoists, likely for use in Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) or other insurgent activities. The immediate launch of combing operations on both sides of the state border, following the incident, forced the Maoists to abandon or hastily hide the explosives before they could be moved further into the forest. Earlier, on May 30, a substantial quantity of the looted explosives had already been recovered following an exchange of fire with Maoist insurgents at Saranda’s Tirilposi area, though exact quantities were not disclosed at the time.
In a related development, police have also seized two other mini-trucks loaded with similar explosive packets originating from the same warehouse in Bargaon block of Sundargarh. The warehouse owner had reportedly misled authorities about the delivery of these trucks, which were found hidden near Balughat at Rourkela.
This suggests possible collusion or negligence in the storage and transport of explosives, prompting a detailed inquiry by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a comprehensive safety audit of all explosive storage centers in Sundargarh. The authorities have since implemented stricter standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the issuance and transportation of explosives to prevent future incidents.
The operation marks a significant achievement in counter-insurgency efforts, not only through the recovery of a large portion of the stolen explosives but also by exposing vulnerabilities in the management of explosive materials in the region. The ongoing investigation aims to further dismantle Maoist supply networks and ensure the security of explosive storage and transportation systems.
Agencies