Huge cache of explosives worth Rs 20 lakh seized from Balasore village; owner absconds with family

In a major crackdown, police seized explosives worth over Rs 20 lakh from a house in Mahulashikda village under Khaira police limits of Balasore district on Sunday. The raid was conducted by a special team led by Nilgiri SDPO Pramod Kumar Mallick following a tip-off.

According to sources, the explosives were stored inside the house of a man identified as Ranjan Kumar Sendh, who has allegedly been involved in the illegal trade for several years. On learning about the impending raid, Sendh reportedly threw the stockpile into a nearby shed and fled the spot along with his family in a vehicle.

Illegal and Dangerous Storage

SDPO Mallick told media persons that storing explosives requires both a licence and a secure site located far from human settlements.

In this case, the material was kept clandestinely inside a densely populated village, posing a serious risk to residents. The seized explosives were primarily meant for stone quarrying and hill blasting, officials said.

Long-Time Suspect Under Watch

Police sources revealed that Sendh had been under surveillance for some time due to suspicions about his involvement in the illegal explosives trade. However, yesterday’s raid was the first time such a large cache was recovered from his possession.

Estimated Value and Ongoing Probe

The seized materials are estimated to be worth more than Rs 20 lakh in the grey market. Police have launched a manhunt for Sendh and his family, while further investigation is underway to trace the supply chain and possible links to other illegal operations in the region.

Nilgiri SDPO Mallick stated that stringent action will be taken against the accused and anyone else associated with the racket.

"The nearby quarries that have shut down are witnessing many instances of illegal blasting. We traced the origin of the explosives used in this blast to one Ranjan Kumar Sendh from Mahulisikda village. He is accused of supplying explosives to several illegal quarries.
We found several bags of explosives weighing 20 kgs to over 50 kgs. Wires and other unauthorised substances were also found and subsequently seized,” the SDPO said.