Balasore: Police here recovered a huge quantity of explosives from abandoned stone quarries near Khanjamahal under Mahumuhan panchayat and Soro block in Balasore district, sources said Monday. The explosives were supposed to be used for blasting in the quarries to extract stones. According to sources, a team from Soro police station led by IIC Prabhanshu Sekhar Mishra conducted a raid on the instruction of Balasore SP Sagarika Nath.
The team found 1500 kg of gelatin sticks from a secluded place near Bagudi and also recovered 6000 kg of explosives and gelatin sticks from an abandoned stone quarry near Mahumuhan. Police registered a case (476/24) in this regard at Soro police station and launched an investigation into the matter. The raid was conducted following allegations of stone smuggling from illegal quarries in Khanjamahal locality. It is pertinent to mention here that miscreants use explosives to extract stones from illegal stone quarries after blasting the hills.