Huge cache of high intensity explosives seized in Meghalaya

Shillong, Nov 29 (UNI) Huge quantity of explosives, including 243 Neo Gel 90, half a kilo of Super Dyne dynamite and 1,832 detonators, were seized from Meghalaya's Jaintia Hills district late last night, police said today.

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.

Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police M K Singh told UNI here that the explosives were seized from a ration shop at Soo Kilo under Khliehriat Sub-Division during a joint raid with the Assam Police late last night.

One Abdul Malik, a resident of Dilgaon of Assam's Darrang district was arrested, while the prime accused and owner of the shop Nasiruddin Bharbuyia have absconded, he said.

The operation was conducted based on a specific information provided by two arrested persons from Assam, who used to purchase explosives illegally from the coal-rich district of Meghalaya.

Nizaudeen 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 Meghalaya to provide inputs to the state police for the operation.

Talukdar, originally from Nagaland's Mon district, is believed to have sold explosives to ULFA and other militant groups operating in the region.

''We are still investigating to find out how these explosives are sold in the open market. We are not only worried about militants using them, but also whether other anti-national elements, including fundamentalists, use them,'' Mr Singh said.

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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