Bengaluru: In a major crackdown on illegal transportation of explosives, Dobbespet police Friday seized 600 gelatin sticks and 100 detonators from an SUV near Nelamangala and arrested a 45-year-old man.The accused, Shivashankar, was intercepted near Sompura in Nelamangala taluk following a tip-off about the transportation of explosives. A police team led by Umarani, deputy superintendent of police, Nelamangala sub-division, stopped the SUV and found the explosives inside.Shivashankar allegedly failed to give a satisfactory explanation about the consignment. Police have registered a case under the Explosive Substances Act and Section 288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to negligent conduct involving explosive substances.According to police, Shivashankar was allegedly transporting the explosives for blasting rocks in and around Bengaluru. A resident of Honnenahalli near Rajanukunte, he is suspected of illegally supplying explosives for several years.“During questioning, Shivashankar confessed to having supplied explosives illegally for the past six years,” a senior officer said. Police had reportedly been tracking him for nearly a month before intercepting the vehicle.Investigators are probing the source and intended destination of the explosives and whether they were linked to illegal mining. They are also working to identify others involved in the alleged procurement and supply network.Police said the gelatin sticks and detonators had been packed separately, reducing the immediate risk of an accidental explosion. The seizure is among the largest recoveries of explosives reported in the Nelamangala area in recent years.
