Daijiworld Media Network- Bapatla
Bapatla, Apr 20: In a significant crackdown, Andhra Pradesh Police on Sunday arrested two individuals, including a local leader of the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), following the seizure of a large cache of gelatine sticks in Bapatla district.
The arrested include Hanumantha Rao, whose alleged role in the illegal possession and trade of explosive materials has sent shockwaves across political and administrative circles. A transport vehicle reportedly used for the operation was also seized.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ramanjaneyulu confirmed that the recovered explosives, estimated to be worth around ?20 lakh, were part of a suspected smuggling racket. “Preliminary findings point to a broader nexus involving a licensed supplier,” the DSP stated.
Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vanagalapudi Anitha had ordered an intensive probe into the illegal trade of gelatine sticks. Authorities suspect that the explosives were being transported under the guise of a granite business, a claim now under active investigation.
The Home Minister held telephonic discussions with the Director General of Police and the Bapatla District SP on Sunday. She instructed law enforcement to explore potential links between the latest seizure and past incidents — particularly a fatal blast in Ballikurava during the 2023 Panchayat Raj elections that claimed one life.
Following credible intelligence, police conducted a raid on a warehouse along the Martur highway on Saturday. The warehouse, reportedly linked to the YSRCP leader, held a massive quantity of gelatine sticks. Authorities said that no official permission had been granted for the storage of such explosives.
Police also discovered a stockpile of 2,300 detonators at a granite unit located in Ballikurava mandal, heightening concerns about the potential misuse of industrial explosives.
A case has been registered and an in-depth probe is underway to identify the origin of the seized material and uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.
Law enforcement has gone on high alert across the district, with further raids expected in connection to the ongoing investigation.