Seizure of explosives in Bengal: NIA files supplementary chargesheet against 2 accused
NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed a supplementary chargesheet against two accused in the June 2022 case relating to seizure of a huge cache of electric detonators, nonels (non-electric detonators) and explosives from Birbhum district in West Bengal. The chargesheet coincided with raids carried out by NIA at illegal godowns across two locations in Birbhum.
More arms and explosives were seized during Wednesday’s raids at the godowns maintained by Manoj Ghosh, a suspect in the case. The seizures include ammonium nitrate, country-made pistol, live ammunition, gelatin sticks and incriminating documents, said an NIA spokesperson.
With the filing of the first supplementary chargesheet on Wednesday against accused Merajuddin Ali Khan from Jharkhand and Mir Md Nuruzzaman from West Bengal, the total number of accused chargesheeted in the case has risen to seven. Five accused persons were chargesheeted earlier in April 2023.
The NIA probe revealed that Merajuddin had supplied the electric detonators and gelatin sticks to Rintu, one of the five accused charge-sheeted earlier. Nuruzzaman too had illegally supplied 27,000 kg of ammonium nitrate to Rintu. The duo had also prepared forged and fabricated documents, which they uploaded on PESO site, to cover up their crimes.
The seized documents show that Merajuddin had illegally supplied a total 86,700 kgs of gelatine sticks, 4.99 lakh electric detonators and 204 nonels (non-electric detonators) to various illegal miners so far. These included the detonators and explosives seized in the instant case.
Both Merajuddin and Nuruzzaman have been charged under various sections of IPC and the Explosive Substances Act.
The West Bengal case was registered in September 2022 following the seizure of around 81,000 electric detonators from a vehicle in Md Bazar police station area of Birbhum by a team of special taskforce (STF), West Bengal. The vehicle’s driver, Ashish Keora was arrested and subsequent searches led to the seizure of another 2,525 electric detonators, 27,000 kg of ammonium nitrate and 1,625 kg of gelatin sticks from an illegal godown.
More arms and explosives were seized during Wednesday’s raids at the godowns maintained by Manoj Ghosh, a suspect in the case. The seizures include ammonium nitrate, country-made pistol, live ammunition, gelatin sticks and incriminating documents, said an NIA spokesperson.
With the filing of the first supplementary chargesheet on Wednesday against accused Merajuddin Ali Khan from Jharkhand and Mir Md Nuruzzaman from West Bengal, the total number of accused chargesheeted in the case has risen to seven. Five accused persons were chargesheeted earlier in April 2023.
The NIA probe revealed that Merajuddin had supplied the electric detonators and gelatin sticks to Rintu, one of the five accused charge-sheeted earlier. Nuruzzaman too had illegally supplied 27,000 kg of ammonium nitrate to Rintu. The duo had also prepared forged and fabricated documents, which they uploaded on PESO site, to cover up their crimes.
The seized documents show that Merajuddin had illegally supplied a total 86,700 kgs of gelatine sticks, 4.99 lakh electric detonators and 204 nonels (non-electric detonators) to various illegal miners so far. These included the detonators and explosives seized in the instant case.
Both Merajuddin and Nuruzzaman have been charged under various sections of IPC and the Explosive Substances Act.
The West Bengal case was registered in September 2022 following the seizure of around 81,000 electric detonators from a vehicle in Md Bazar police station area of Birbhum by a team of special taskforce (STF), West Bengal. The vehicle’s driver, Ashish Keora was arrested and subsequent searches led to the seizure of another 2,525 electric detonators, 27,000 kg of ammonium nitrate and 1,625 kg of gelatin sticks from an illegal godown.
