Bhubaneswar, June 3, (OT Webdesk): In a significant breakthrough, Odisha police have arrested Shravan Agrawal, the owner of a Badgaon-based explosives warehouse, in connection with the recent Maoist heist in Sundargarh district. His detention marks a crucial development in the investigation of the May 28 incident, where nearly four tonnes of commercial explosives were stolen, raising national security concerns.
According to reports, a truck carrying gelatin sticks to a stone quarry was ambushed by Maoists near Banko under the K. Balang police limits. The highly coordinated robbery in a forested area indicated prior planning and knowledge of the explosives’ route.
Following sustained interrogation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Agrawal was taken into custody, joining the truck driver who had already been detained. Investigators suspect Agrawal’s involvement in an illegal supply network of explosives, possibly for financial gain. His warehouse was sealed last week as scrutiny intensified.
Further complicating the case, police recovered two mini-trucks filled with explosive packets from Rourkela’s Balughat area, sparking concerns over a larger unauthorised trade in explosive materials. Authorities are now probing whether the trucks were intentionally concealed for illicit resale to mining operations at higher prices.
With national security at stake, law enforcement agencies are accelerating their probe into the deeper networks behind the operation. The case continues to unfold, with additional arrests and revelations expected.
