Two held for illegal possession of explosives

Hyderabad, December 30 (INN): The North Zone team of Commissioner's Task Force on Sunday arrested two persons for illegally possession, transportation and sale of explosives.

The police team also seized 1300 gelatin sticks, 2825 electric detonators, a Maruthi Swift, Rs 7000 cash, relevant records and three cell phones from their possession. The arrested accused persons have been identified as Maddi Madhusudhan Reddy (33), a contractor of Ghatkesar and Gandikota Ramesh (40) of Tukkaramgate.

According to police, Madhusudhan Reddy obtained license on the name of Mahalaxmi Enterprises from the Chief Controller of Explosives in 2009.

However, as per the license conditions he was allowed to use the explosive to blast the heavy rocks at the sites where he is working on contract basis by taking prior permission from the concerned authorities with the help of shot firers.

However, the police said he was illegally selling the explosives by charging Rs 7 extra on each gelatin stick and detonator.

Another accused, Ramesh, was also getting a getting a commission of Rs 2 per gelatin stick and detonator, by introducing Madhusudhan Reddy to prospective buyers.

Further, the accused allegedly violated the norms by transporting the explosives in a regular instead of a magazine vehicle. The slight impact or pressure or electrical impulse might cause a huge explosion on the road posing threat to the lives of common people, the police said.

On Sunday, when Madhusudhan Reddy came to deliver the explosive material to Ramesh and others at a site near Nagarjuna Circle on Road No 1, Banjara Hills, on a tip off, the North Zone Task Force Team has caught them red handed and seized the explosive material and his car.

The accused Ramesh, who has taken delivery of 100 gelatin sticks and 525 detonators, few days ago, has hidden them under the earth in two feet depth in a site beside Nagarjuna Circle, Road No 1, Banjara Hills. The same was unearthed and seized.

According to Additional DCP (Task Force) P Rameshaiah, Madhusudhan Reddy manipulated the records and the details of purchase and use explosives could not be tallied.

He said that the explosives were brought for illegal quarrying. Probe is on with regard to the supply of explosive material to various persons by Madhusudhan Reddy as there is possibility of going this material into the hands of anti social elements.

Irrespective of motive we are treating the case very seriously as such huge quantity of the illegal consignment is a cause for concern, he said.

The Additional DCP said that a letter would be addressed to the Chief Controller of Explosives, Nagapur, to cancel the license as he has been violating the conditions of the license.

The police have warned the site owners and builders against violating the procedure to obtain the license or permission from the concerned authorities and encouraging illegal purchase and sale of explosive material in order to save their time and to avoid Government fee.

Construction Companies in the city must not resort to shortcut methods, by violating the norms of Explosive Substances Act, Rameshaiah said. The accused persons along with the seized material were handed over to Banjara Hills police station for further investigation.