Explosives Truck Loot In Odisha’s Sundargarh Sparks Security Alert, Maoist Role Suspected
The audacious incident has raised serious concerns about the potential misuse of the stolen explosives, especially amid suspicions of Maoist involvement.
Bhubaneswar: A major security scare has gripped western Odisha after a truck carrying around four tonnes of industrial explosives was looted by an armed group in Sundargarh district on Tuesday. The incident, which took place in the K Balang area near Banko, has prompted intensified combing operations and a high-level security review by state police and paramilitary forces.
According to preliminary reports, a group of 30 to 40 unidentified individuals intercepted the explosives-laden vehicle en route from a mining site near Banko to Badagaon and forcibly made away with the consignment. The audacious incident has raised serious concerns about the potential misuse of the stolen explosives, especially amid suspicions of Maoist involvement.
Top officials of the Odisha Police have swung into action. Director General of Police (DGP) YB Khurania, Northern Range Inspector General Himanshu Lal, Western Range Deputy Inspector General Brijesh Rai, and Rourkela Superintendent of Police Nitesh Wadhwani rushed to the site on Wednesday for an on-ground assessment.
The DGP is personally overseeing the situation and chaired an emergency security meeting in Rourkela to formulate a coordinated response.
While the looted truck was later traced, the whereabouts of the stolen explosives remain unknown. The absence of clear leads has deepened the crisis, with security agencies fearing that the material could be used for subversive activities if it falls into extremist hands.
The truck driver, who was detained for questioning, has reportedly given conflicting statements, further complicating the investigation. Sources indicate that discrepancies in his account have raised doubts about possible internal complicity or misdirection.
Large contingents of police and CRPF personnel have been deployed across the region, and extensive combing operations are underway in the dense forest stretches of Sundargarh. Security has also been tightened in sensitive and vulnerable locations across western Odisha.
Given the scale and nature of the loot, and the continuing Maoist influence in certain pockets of the region, state authorities are treating the incident as a matter of grave concern. If confirmed to be the handiwork of left-wing extremists, it would mark a significant escalation in insurgent activity in the state’s western belt — a development that could prompt a broader and more aggressive counterinsurgency offensive in the days ahead.
The state police have assured that every possible measure is being taken to trace the missing explosives and neutralize any potential threat to public safety.