The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the probe into the seizure of a massive cache of explosives from Chemmad in Kerala’s Malappuram district earlier this year.
The central agency has approached the Judicial First Class Magistrate-I Court in Parappanangadi seeking the transfer of case records to its special court in Kochi.
Police had recovered around 448 boxes containing more than 89,600 gelatin sticks, 10,500 non-electric shock tube detonators, and wires from a lorry parked at a brick manufacturing unit in Chemmad, a smll town around 23 km west of the district headquarters, on February 7.
According to investigators, the vehicle had arrived at the unit the previous night. Acting on a tip-off, police rushed to the spot, but those unloading the consignment had fled before officers arrived.
The lorry was taken into custody, and during inspection, police discovered detonators, gelatin sticks, and wires concealed among sacks of onions.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of six people, including a woman believed to be the owner of the vehicle. Police later traced the origin of the explosives to Bijapur in Karnataka.
A case was registered under Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, relating to possession of explosives with intent to endanger life or property and possession under suspicious circumstances.
The arrested woman reportedly operates a quarry in the region and investigators suspected the explosives were intended for illegal quarrying activities.
"We had arrested six persons in connection with the case. Though our probe indicated that the explosives were meant for illegal quarrying, the NIA decided to conduct a detailed investigation considering the large quantity seized," a police officer from Tirurangadi police station told PTI.
The NIA is now expected to investigate the origin and supply chain of the explosives, as well as examine whether the consignment was linked to any organised criminal activity.
In February, the agency had arrested a man from Malappuram district who had been absconding for nearly three years in a case related to the Popular Front of India (PFI). He was taken into custody upon his arrival from the UAE at Cochin International Airport.
The accused, Moideenkutty, is a native of Valancherry in the district. During searches conducted at his residence, the NIA reportedly recovered several incriminating documents.
According to the agency’s investigation, the PFI had allegedly been using its campuses, facilities, and infrastructure to provide arms training to selected cadres under the guise of physical education and yoga sessions.
Notably, the explosive seizure in Malappuram came just days after a similar incident in neighbouring Palakkad, where police recovered more than 100 boxes of gelatin sticks and detonators from a lorry transporting watermelons.
