After a dramatic 15-km long chase, the district police, along with a revenue team, seized around 1.5 tonne of explosives, which was being smuggled into Kerala, from a SUV on Kerala-Kanyakumari border on Thursday.
“Around 5.30 am on Thursday during a vehicle check, we noticed a SUV which was already on our list and intercepted the vehicle. As it did not stop, we immediately alerted the police and started chasing it,” Vilavancode Taluk Supply Officer N Suki Premila told Express.
“After travelling for around 30 km, the SUV was about to pass through the Cheriyakolla police check post. But the police at the check post, who had already been informed, had downed the barriers of the check post and had put iron pins on the road to stop the vehicle. After hitting the barrier and breaking them, the SUV, whose tyres were punctured by the iron pins, stopped some yards away from the check post. The SUV driver, who attempted to escape was caught by the public and police who were present there,” Premila added.
“On a thorough checking of the SUV, we found around 30 sacks, each containing 50 kg of Ammonium Nitrate, an explosive material, all weighing around 1.5 tonnes. The explosive material along with the SUV was seized and driver Saji (28), of Mecodu, near Vanniyoor in Kaliyakkavilai in the district, was secured,” said Arumanai police Inspector Renganathan.
During interrogation, Saji said that he was taking the explosives to a stone quarry located at Nedumangadu in Kerala and added that he had taken the SUV from Nanguneri in Tirunelveli.
David Rajan, Head Constable, sustained minor bruises, sources added.