Truckload of explosives seized in Chhattisgarh

A truck loaded with five tonnes of explosives, including gelatine sticks, and 30,000 bullets was seized on Tuesday from Chhattisgarh's Maoist stronghold of Jashpur

A truck loaded with five tonnes of explosives, including gelatine sticks, and 30,000 bullets was seized on Tuesday from Chhattisgarh's Maoist stronghold of Jashpur.

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The truck was found in a forested area of Jashpur, about 450 km from Raipur, and the entire area has been cordoned off.

"The truck has at least 17,750 rounds of bullets being used for 12-bore guns and 1,550 rounds of bullets used for 9-mm pistols," said Pawan Deo, deputy inspector general, police headquarters.

"Besides the bullets, about five tonnes of explosives, including gelatine sticks mainly used for landmine blasts, was recovered," Deo told IANS.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the truck was coming from Jharkhand and was on its way to Bastar region for Maoist guerrillas to use in the run-up to the April 16 Lok Sabha polls, he said.