Birbhum Police have seized 10,000 gelatin sticks and 360 detonators from a tractor in the Nalhati area. Local villagers stopped the vehicle after becoming suspicious and informed Nalhati Police Station.
The seizure of such a large quantity of explosives ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in Birbhum district has created a major stir.
The matter has also been reported by Birbhum Police to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Central forces have already arrived in Birbhum district for poll duty and are engaged in voter confidence-building activities, including flag marches in various sensitive areas.
The incident occurred in Kadasir village under Nalhati Police Station in Birbhum.
Police said the seized explosives included 10,000 gelatin sticks and 360 detonators. However, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Local residents said that a tractor loaded with explosives was passing through Kadasir village late at night when villagers stopped it. The driver managed to escape. Upon inspection, the villagers discovered the explosives, leading to commotion in the area. They immediately informed the police, who reached the spot and seized both the explosives and the tractor.
Questions are being raised about who was transporting the explosives, for what purpose, and to which destination. Nalhati Police Station has begun an investigation.
This is not the first seizure of explosives meant for mining purposes in Birbhum district. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has previously investigated similar cases and arrested several local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders from Nalhati and Mohammad Bazar.
Explosives intended for mining purposes have also been used by various extremist groups for subversive activities in the country in the past.
Samples of the seized explosives are being sent to the Central Forensic Laboratory for testing by Nalhati Police Station.