In a chilling operation that averted a potential catastrophe, Rajasthan Police late Tuesday night intercepted a pick-up truck carrying 109 cartons of military-grade explosives on a key highway in Rajsamand district. The consignment—comprising 981 high-power gelatin sticks, 93 electronic detonators, and a 30-foot safety fuse—held enough destructive force to obliterate everything within a 10-kilometre radius, raising immediate fears of terrorist or large-scale criminal intent.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs about an unauthorised movement, a specially formed team led by Nathdwara Circle Officer set up a surprise blockade at Trinetra Circle on the Nathdwara-Rajsamand road around 11 p.m. When the white pick-up bearing a Gujarat registration plate was stopped, the occupants—driver Bhagwat Singh and helper Himmat Singh, both natives of Rajsamand—grew visibly nervous and could not produce a single valid document, explosive transport licence, Form-22, or consignee details required under the stringent Explosives Act, 1884, and its 2008 rules.

Upon thorough search in the presence of an executive magistrate, officers discovered the entire cargo area packed with 109 sealed cartons marked as industrial gelatin sticks normally used in marble mining. Deputy Superintendent of Police Shipra Rajawat, who supervised the operation, revealed that each carton contained nine gelatin sticks, taking the total to 981, along with 93 detonators capable of remote or timed activation. The absence of mandatory explosive vans, licensed magazines, and route permits confirmed the transportation was completely illegal.

Also Read: Rajasthan Government Reverses Decision to Celebrate Babri Demolition Day Amid Controversy

Authorities have registered a case under Sections 4, 5, and 9B of the Explosives Act, relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, and are examining possible violations under anti-terror laws. Interrogation of the accused has begun to ascertain the exact source of the explosives—believed to be a licensed factory in Madhya Pradesh or Gujarat—and the final destination, suspected to be unauthorised marble quarries operating deep inside the Aravalli hills where blasting continues despite Supreme Court restrictions.

With Rajsamand and adjoining Udaipur emerging as a notorious corridor for illegal explosive trafficking, senior officers have ordered round-the-clock nakabandi on all entry-exit routes, surprise raids on licensed dealers, and verification of stock registers. Intelligence agencies have been alerted to rule out any terror angle, while bomb disposal squads remain on standby as forensic experts examine the detonators for possible links to previous seizures in the region. The seized truck and explosives have been shifted to a secure magazine under heavy escort.

Also Read: “Unbelievable Suffering”: Supreme Court Blasts Rajasthan Over Toxic Pollution in Jojari River