Explosive-laden truck seized, driver arrested in Chhattisgarh - police

An explosive-laden truck was seized and its driver was arrested in Chhattisgarhs naxal-affected Kabirdham district, police said Wednesday. During a checking of vehicles in view of Lok Sabha elections, the truck was intercepted in front of Kukdur police station late Tuesday night, Superintendent of Police Lal Umed Singh said. A huge consignment of explosives, weighing 7.4 tons, was found in the vehicle, following which it was seized for non-compliance of safety standards during transportation through a naxal-affected area at night, he said.

The seized items included 80 boxes (2,000 kg) of `Neo Gel' explosive and 76 boxes (1,900 kg) of `Shakti Gel' explosive, he said. The truck driver, Rakesh Vaishnav (35), native of Bhilwada in Rajasthan, allegedl told police that the consignment was being transported from a factory of Special Blast Limited, located at Pirda in Raipur district, to Jai Maa Vindhyawasni Enterprises based in Allahabad (Prayagraj), Singh said. Further probe was on.