Theft of banned explosives from the godown of licensed owners

Nagpur (Maharashtra): All over the country 21000 banned explosives have been robbed from licensees and directed elsewhere. According to the information received by the ‘Indian Express’ from 2004-2006, 86,899 detonators, 20,150 kilograms of explosives, 52,740 metre detonating fuses, 419 kilograms gelatine, etc were stolen. Live cartridges and boosters in huge amounts are missing from godowns. It is impossible not only to trace the culprits but also to trace where the explosives have reached. These missing reports received from officials in Kolkatta, Rourkela, Baroda, Bhopal and Vellore are very similar. They all state that the police have not done anything in this regard. Shri M. Anbathun the Controller of Explosives has state that despite theft of explosives occurring in Naxal and terrorist active areas the police have suppressed the information. Due to less manpower in offices only 25% of the licensees were subjected to inspection. (A typical example of the snail -paced activities of the Central government. When the police did not act was it not the responsibility of the concerned officers to pursue the matter ? Government officers with such attitudes should be dismissed ! Why should such incompetent police machinery be nurtured ? Not inspecting licensees for lack of manpower has been going on for years. This callous attitude has led to the explosives falling in the hands of terrorists and Naxalites. These officials should face inquiry and the guilty should be labelled as anti-nationalist and anti-social and punished severely. – Editor )

Source: ‘Daily Sanatan Prabhat’