Bantwal: Illegal Stock of Explosives worth Crores Seized near Vittal – Six Held
News & Pics: Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SB)
Bantwal, Apr 16: In a surprise raid into a house situated near a stone quarry at Arthadka of Veerakamba village near Vittal on Friday April 16, team led by circle inspector Nanjunde Gowda arrested six including quarry owner and seized vehicles, illegal storage of explosives including detonators and equipment used for mining worth over crore rupees.
The arrested are identified as owner Tousif, son of PB Ahmed alias Ammuchcha of Kasargod, manager Sahadev, supervisor Prakash, labourers Ahmed, Murthy and Santhosh. Police have gathered information that Ajith Kamth from Karkala and R S Kini of Honnavar too are partners in crime with Tousif. The duo are said to be supplying jelly stones to railway department.
The assets seized comprised explosives that include 18 bags of ammonium nitrate, 1,000 electronic detonators, 650 gelatin sticks and dynamo used for explosion recovered from the house. Further, three Hitachi machines, two jeeps, four tractors, eight tippers, one loader and crusher machine were also seized by the police.
More than 25 workers were working in the quarry that had a permit to undertake mining on 2.80 acres of land. However, it has come to light on investigation that mining was being undertaken on the illegally acquired land apart from the permissible area. A thorough investigation will be held in this regard through the revenue department, informed Gowda.
Constables Sanjeeva Purusha, Vijay Kumar, Girish, Jayakumar, Lokesh, Taranath, Vadiraj, Prashanth and jeep driver Vijeshwaran were part of the operation. Deputy superintendent of police Shashidhar and Harishchandra inspected the spot and are guiding the investigation. Vittal police station sub-inspector Savitra Teja has registered a complaint.