Four of 61 missing trucks found, but no explosives

BHOPAL - Four of the 61 trucks loaded with about 300 tonnes of explosives, which went missing in transit, were found empty and abandoned in Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district Saturday, police said.

The 61 trucks carried the explosives, an important ingredient for making landmines, and all were lost on their way to the state’s Sagar town from Rajasthan’s Dholpur district.

“Four trucks out of the total 61 were found in Rajgarh district,” Sagar Range Inspector General of Police Anvesh Mangalam told IANS.

He said the trucks were found abandoned in Rajgarh, some 300 km from Sagar town where the 300-tonne consignment of explosves was to be delivered.

“No driver or helper was found inside or near the trucks,” he added.

The 61 trucks left for Sagar town on an order placed by a private firm, Ganesh Explosives, between April and June. The dispatches were made by Rajasthan Explosives and Chemicals Ltd from Dholpur, Rajasthan.

“The company that ordered for explosives had surrendered its licence before the order for explosives was booked. I suspect the explosives were diverted in transit,” Mangalam said.

“I am collecting all information, compiling all documents, interrogating a few people in a bid to solve the case,” he said.

Asked whether the explosives are accessed by any terror outfit or Maoist groups, Mangalam said: “Nothing can be said with authenticity till I get proof, document or clinching evidences.”