Police raid three places in Karkala, seize explosive materials worth Rs 1.5 crore
R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (EP)
Updated
Karkala, Mar 25: The police on Tuesday March 25 raided three places in the taluk and seized explosive materials worth Rs 1.5 crore that were illegally stocked.
The raids were conducted at Durga gram's Tellaru, a shed in a coconut farm located about one kilometre from Koti Chennaya theme park, and at Varnabettu at Nakre.
The main accused, Biju Thomas of Kerala origin, is said to be absconding.
File photo of accused Biju
In a shed at a rubber plantation about three kilometres from Nakre Varnabettu road, the police found raw materials worth Rs one crore, 60-70 tons of ammonium nitrate, 43,000 electric detonators, and safety fuse about 19,000 metre in length. The total value of the seized materials is over Rs 1.5 crore, it is learnt.
It is said that about two weeks back, Biju Thomas from Kerala had purchased the rubber plantation at Nakre. He then accumulated and illegally stocked the explosive materials in the shed located in the plantation. He would supply the explosives to a number of mines and quarries across Karkala. He also stored these explosive materials in the sheds of various quarries, and police are preparing to raid them too, sources said.
The government had in 2012 introduced Ammonium Nitrate Rules to regulate the manufature, sale, conversion and transport of the chemical, especially in view of the fact it was being used by terrorists particularly the Indian Mujahideen. As per the rules, it became mandatory to possess a license to manufacture, sell transport, stock or use ammonium nitrate. Now, with a such a large quantity of illegally stocked ammonium nitrate being found in a small village of Karkala, suspicions have naturally arose. It is suspected that the explosive materials were being used not only in quarries but other unlawful activities as well.
Udupi SP Dr Boralingaiah said that prima facie it seems like Biju Thomas is the mastermind behind the act, and no other names have emerged in the case so far. He said further investigations have been taken up.
Among the other two places where the explosive materials were found, the plantation at Durga gram's Tellaru is in the name of John, while the coconut farm near Koti Chennaya theme park is in the name of Veeramani. The rubber plantation at Nakre Varnabettu belongs to Biju Thomas.
It is said that several complaints were received about Biju in the past and the police had recovered explosives and registered cases against him.
Complaints of him storing ammonium nitrate explosives weighing several tons in his house at Ajekar were also heard from people in the past. It is said that he supplies explosives for illegal quarries in the taluk.
Police conducted the operation to prevent untoward incidents during the upcoming general elections.
Biju was also arrested by Kerala police for similar offence in the past.
No arrests have been made so far.
Circle inspector G R Naikar, Karkala ASP Annamalai, probationary ASP Radhika G, PSI Kabbalraj, Ravi and other police personnel were part of the operation.