Unguarded explosives destroyed in Chhattisgarh

Dhamtari, July 28 (UNI) Learning a lesson from the theft of explosives from a NMDC godown in Bailadila by naxals early this year, 792 kg of unguarded explosives and detonators dumped in a Dhamtari jungle for years have been destroyed.

Rebel activity is on the increase in this district for the past few months. The material was destroyed on July 25 in the presence of experts from Bhandara in Maharashtra and Deputy Superintendent of Police Vijay Agrawal.

''The explosives were purchased in 1971-72 for blasting cliffs during construction of the Pandit Ravishankar Sagar Reservoir Project's Gangrel dam. Following the dam's completion, the material was stored for roughly two decades at a godown in the Bindranwagarh forest, eight km from the dam,'' the officer told UNI.

The matter came to light three months back.

UNI XC-AC SK BST0429