Explosives seized from house, owner missing

Berhampur: A huge quantity of explosive items was seized from a person at Jilundi under Ganjam district's Bhanjanagara police station limits, about 80 km from here on Sunday.

Around 350-kg of explosives, 7,100 detonators, 45 meters of safety fuse wires and two dynamos were seized from the house of Deba Pradhan during a raid, the police said.

Pradhan was, however, not in the house during the raid, said inspector-in-charge Bhanjanagar, A K Sahu.

Seizure of such huge quantity of explosives assumed significance in view of the approaching twin elections. The district will go to poll for its ten state Assembly segments and two Lok Sabha constituencies on April 10.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided the house. Though Pradhan's wife was present, she did not say much about the source of explosive materials.

"We suspect the explosives might be used for blasting of stones," the police said. Search was on to nab the accused.