Meghalaya police recover huge cache of explosives in East Jaintia Hills

SHILLONG

Meghalaya police on Wednesday evening seized a huge cache of explosives from an Assam registered white Bolero vehicle at Kongong area under Lad Rymbai police outpost in East Jaintia Hills (EJH) district of Meghalaya.

According to the EJH police, a team led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Headquarters and DSP (Crime) launched an operation after receiving information on the movement of the vehicle from 4 Kilo area en route towards Kongong on December 2 around 7 pm.

The team managed to halt the vehicle at Kongong, and recovered 10 cartons filled with 250 kgs of explosives (2000 gelatin sticks) and 1000 live detonators.

Two occupants of the said vehicle were arrested and based on their lead, police managed to nab four more persons from Umpleng at Mokympad and 5Kilo, suspected to be involved in supplying the explosives to the two persons arrested earlier.

Later, the arrested persons also led the police team to a concealed location at 5Kilo under Khliehriat Police Station in EJH, from where the transaction and loading process was suspected to have taken place.

“After a thorough search of the area, the team further recovered 51 cartons loaded with approximately 1275 kgs of explosives (10200 gelatine sticks), 5000 live detonators and eight rolls of cordtex (Fuse),” EJH police informed.

Police suspect the recovered explosives to be of the same kind that was used in the recent IED blast at 4 Kilo or Soo Kilo in EJH, wherein the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) had claimed responsibility.

The explosives recovered on Wednesday’s operation weigh approximately 1525 kgs.

“A case under the Explosives Act and other relevant sections of law has been registered, in this regard, and further investigation is on,” police said.