Ramesh Mahato and Gobindo Besra were arrested from Ayodhya hills under Arsha police station on Monday evening while they were carrying a huge quantity of explosives on their bicycles. The recovery of such a huge consignment of explosives and detonators — 100 gelatin sticks and 400 detonators — has prompted the police and the state CID to launch a massive search operation for private explosive manufacturing units in and around Purulia district, bordering Jharkhand.

According to a senior CID officer, the huge quantity of seized explosives point to the Maoists’ plan to launch a massive attack.

“We have located around five to seven private mines in the Raniganj-Asansol coal belt, as well as in Jhargram area, from where the Maoists collect the explosives. The officers and workers are constantly terrorised by the Maoists and they want security if the supply chain of explosives to the Maoists is to be snapped. We are discussing the matter with the district police,” said an IG rank officer of the CID.

Superintendent of Police (Purulia) Rajesh Jadav said interrogations of the two arrested men have not revealed yet the recipient of the explosive consignment. “As per our information, the explosives were to be supplied to the Ayodhya squad of the CPI (Maoists). During interrogation, the arrested persons revealed the locations of few other places from where we have seized explosive wires and raw materials required to make the explosives,” said Jadav.