Faced with a spurt of Maoist violence, killing more than 100 people in the first quarter of 2012, the Union home ministry has asked all states to ensure that legally procured explosives don’t reach the hands of Maoists. Security forces suspect that explosives used by industrial houses for the purpose of mining, quarrying, dam construction, tunnelling are reaching the Maoists hands. It is suspected that these smuggled explosives are being used to target security forces.
Nearly 50 security personnel have been killed by Maoists cadres across states, and the banned outfit has indulged in high-profile kidnappings this year, raising alarm about their growing strength.
The MHA has written to all states to crack down on pilferage of explosives saying that large scale diversion of the explosive being used for legal activities to the Maoists must be curbed at all costs, including making senior police officers accountable for any loss.
It its letter to the chief secretaries of all states and UTs, the MHA has cautioned that it is not necessary that diversion of explosives is taking place only from the Left Wing extremism-hit states. It has therefore issued elaborate guidelines, for the transportation, storage and usage of the legally procured explosives. Notably, the MHA has told states that a daily count of the explosives procured and the explosives used will have to be maintained by the local law enforcement agency. The authorised vendors will have to be verified daily for this purpose. Huge haul of explosives like gelatine sticks from Maoists dens in recent months by anti-Naxal forces has prompted the MHA to raise the alarm bells. The unused explosives procured for industrial purposes are either being smuggled or supplied under pressure to the Maoists, a senior official said. For now, there is no proper mechanism to establish the quantity of explosives used by industrial houses out of the amount procured by them.