NIA to probe loot of explosives by Maoists from J'khand-Odisha border
Bhubaneswar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is all set to take over from Odisha police the investigation into the loot of 5000kg industrial explosives by Maoists from a stone quarry in Sundargarh district, bordering Jharkhand on May 27.
Rourkela police have arrested Maoist informer George Munda (43), a local, for allegedly collaborating with Maoists from Jharkhand in the theft of 5,000 kg of gelatin sticks. Around 3,800 kg of explosives have been recovered.
"Considering the gravity of the offence, NIA has obtained an order from a designated court in Bhubaneswar to suo motu take over the probe from the state police. They will officially take over the case files in a day or two.
NIA was assisting police in the investigation. An NIA team had visited the crime scene at the stone quarry in Banko on May 28," a senior police officer told TOI.
NIA plans to interrogate Munda in their custody to establish 'forward and backward' linkages related to the offence having multi-state ramification. Munda had several meetings with Maoist leader Anmol, alias Lalchand Hembram, before the theft. His arrest raised concerns for security agencies, as Sundargarh had been declared Maoist-free by the Centre in April 2024.
by Taboola
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The police officer added, "Given the Centre's target to wipe out Maoism from the country by March 2026, NIA's involvement in the case is essential to unravel a potential bigger anti-national crime plan of the rebels."
It is the first case undertaken by NIA's Odisha branch following the establishment of its police station in Bhubaneswar last month, police said.
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