Hyderabad : A major consignment of explosives allegedly being smuggled into Telangana was seized during a vehicle check in Adilabad district, with police recovering 20,000 electronic detonators and 90 boosters worth over Rs 19 lakh and arresting seven persons. Investigators suspect the material was intended for illegal sale to mines, quarries, and stone crushers across the state.
The total value of the seizure, excluding the vehicles, was estimated at around Rs 20 lakh. Police seized 20,000 electronic detonators valued at around Rs 19 lakh and 90 boosters worth Rs 15,000. Police arrested Chepyala Parashuram (30), Vallepu Teja (23), Kadam Shravan (36), Kasturi Sunil (26), Sura Ranjith (25), Kasturi Madhu Kiran (28) and Pagala Sampath Reddy (52).
Adilabad district SP Akhil Mahajan said police intercepted two vehicles carrying the explosives and detained the seven occupants after the material was found during inspection. The group had travelled to Uttar Pradesh in two vehicles to collect the consignment and was returning when it was intercepted, according to police. The seizure was made near the Pipparwada toll plaza in Jainath mandal during routine vehicle checks. Police also seized two vehicles and six mobile phones. A case was registered at Jainath police station against nine people. Two others, Mohammed Wahid and Ravi Kumar, were also booked in the case. Police are investigating how the explosives were procured, who the intended buyers were, and whether others were involved in the alleged supply network.