Sundargarh explosives heist: Notice issued to Banko stone mine; warehouse owner faces intense questioning

Police authorities intensified probe on Friday into the recent explosives loot in Sundargarh district. Warehouse owner Shravan Agrawal is now under rigorous interrogation as the police, GST officials, and SIT probe how such a large consignment moved with minimal security.

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According to sources, Shravan is being intensively questioned in connection with the major explosives theft. He is under interrogation at Raghunathpali police station in Rourkela by the joint team of officials. They are probing how a truck loaded with a large quantity of explosives was dispatched solely under the charge of a driver, with no apparent security measures in place. Serious questions are being raised about the lack of intimation to nearby police stations regarding such a sensitive movement of explosive materials.

Huge consignment, no security measure?

Investigators are also examining to whom Shravan had communicated about the explosives' dispatch to the Banko stone mine, and why local police were not informed in advance. Suspicions about Shravan’s potential role in the loot are deepening, especially concerning the possibility of Maoist involvement in the heist, the sources said.

The incident occurred at Banko stone mine under K. Balang police limits in Sundargarh, where over four tonnes of explosives were allegedly looted. A formal notice has now been issued to Banko stone mine by the Deputy Director of Mines in Rourkela for apparent negligence. The mine authorities are to clarify the Department’s queries.

No comments were received from the joint probe team in this regard.

Worth mentioning, the warehouse owner and his wife are currently under two-day police remand and being interrogated by investigators.

The explosives loot probe has taken a new turn. Following the remand of Shravan, owner of M/s Garg Blast Services, investigators have now zeroed in on Nikita Enterprises. The firm is owned by Shravan’s wife, Nikita Agrawal, who is also being questioned.

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Both have already been questioned separately, and each is linked to two explosive storage warehouses, each with valid licenses under their names.