Meghalaya police compiling list of explosives holders

Shillong, Nov 28 (UNI) The Meghalaya police have complied a list of licence holders of explosives to prevent smuggling of explosives and detonators for terror strikes.

The government has also warned licence holders of stringent punishment if found that explosives were being smuggled out for anti-national activities.

''We are compiling the list to verify the regular returns of the explosives procured and used by the licence holders and to prevent explosives getting into the wrong hands,'' Additional Director General of Police Kulbir Kishen told UNI here.

The government has also instructed Deputy Commissioners to issue showcause notices to all those explosives licence holders to file regular returns in the respective Deputy Commissioner's office.

Yesterday, Jaintia Hills District Deputy Commissioner, Sanjay Goyal held discussions with the explosives licence holders and requested them to give specific account on what purpose the explosives were used and to whom they were sold.

The government move comes days after the state police seized 52 gelatin sticks, 35 detonators and 14 metre length fuse wire from two persons who possessed them without licence.

Md Sukur Ali alias Sukur Ahmed and Abdul Sufan alias Kolai, who were arrested from the coal belt areas of Jaintia Hills district, revealed that they used to purchase explosives from the licence holders and sell to certain group of people.

Police officials, however, said they were still investigating to find out whether explosives from Meghalaya were sold to any militant groups.

''If they (licence holders) cannot present us a detailed account on what purpose the explosives were used, they can be booked under various provisions of law,'' Mr Goyal said.

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