Meghalaya police intensify probe after seizing explosives

Khliehriat(Meghalaya), Nov 29 (UNI) Meghalaya police have intensified their investigation into the recovery of high intensity explosives from a grocery shop.

In a joint operation with the Assam police, the state police raided a grocery shop at Soo Kilo under Khliehriat Sub-Division in Jaintia Hills district last evening.

Police recovered 243 Neo Gel 90, half-a-kilo of Super Dyne dynamite and 1,832 detonators hidden inside the ration shop.

Neo Gel 90, a class II explosive consisting of slurry and emulsifier, can create major damage if attached with timer devices.

Neo Gel 90 is legally available in Jaintia Hills district for blasting in coalmines.

Police have arrested one person identified as Abdul Malik of Dilgaon of Assam's Darrang district, while the prime accused and owner of the shop Nasiruddin Bharbuyia have absconded.

''The Assam police have been alerted and a manhunt is on to trace Bharbuyia,'' Jaintia Hills District Superintendent of Police, MK Singh told reporters here.

Yesterday based on a specific information provided by Nizaudeen Talukdar and Arabindo Das, who were arrested for possesing illegal explosives, a raid was conducted.

Talukdar, arrested from Assam's Sivasgar district last week, and Arabindo Das, arrested by government railway police from restive North Cachar district, were brought to Jaintia Hills and identified the location from where they purchased the explosives.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Talukdar and Das often came to Jaintia Hills, the coal-rich district of Meghalaya to purchased explosives in huge quantity and sold them in Manipur, Assam and Nagaland.

''The Assam and Manipur police are investigating into the identity of certain people provided by the arrested persons,'' Mr Singh said, while refusing to comment whether these people have any connection with any militant groups, such as ULFA or with any of the factions of the NSCN.

Following the recent seizure of explosives from Jaintia Hills district, the government has directed all explosives licence holders to file regular returns in the respective Deputy Commissioner's office, even as the police are compiling a list of licence holders of explosives to prevent smuggling of explosives and detonators for terror strikes.

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