Nearly 300 Kg Explosive Material Stolen in Indore, SIT Begins Probe

Nearly 300 kg of explosive material, including gelatin sticks and a detonating fuse, was stolen from a private company’s warehouse near the Mhow military cantonment in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore district, police said on Wednesday.

A 15-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the theft and trace those involved, officials said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Umakant Chaudhary said unidentified miscreants broke the window grill of the private firm’s licensed explosives warehouse under Badgonda police station during the intervening night of September 6 and 7.

The intruders allegedly stole gelatin sticks and a 375-metre-long roll of detonating fuse, which is used to trigger explosions remotely. The stolen material weighed around 300 kg, police said.

According to Chaudhary, the private establishment has held a valid licence since 2014. The explosives stored at the facility are used for legitimate purposes, including construction activities and digging wells.

Police said 13 boxes of blasting material were taken from the warehouse during the break-in. However, one of the boxes was subsequently recovered from bushes located near the premises.

The theft has raised serious concerns because of the nature and quantity of the explosive material involved. Police described the incident as a serious matter and said an investigation was underway to determine how the warehouse was breached and where the stolen explosives were taken.

A case has been registered at the Badgonda police station, and teams are conducting searches to identify and apprehend the accused.

Investigators are also examining the circumstances surrounding the security arrangements at the warehouse and are likely to question people associated with the facility as part of the probe.

The formation of the SIT is aimed at expediting the investigation and ensuring that the stolen explosive material is recovered at the earliest, officials said.