In a significant operation, the Salem City Police apprehended a lorry carrying a staggering 2.5 tonnes of explosives destined for Coimbatore from Dharmapuri in the early hours of Thursday, November 30.
The arrested driver, 32-year-old Ilayaraja, was taken into custody following an alert received by the Salem City Police Control Room from State Intelligence. Specific information about a paddy truck en route to Coimbatore from Dharmapuri prompted heightened vehicle patrols on national highways.
The interception took place at the Karuppur toll gate near Salem around 2:30 am, where a hay-laden lorry was subjected to a thorough search. Hidden beneath the paddy straw, police discovered numerous wooden boxes containing over 30 kg of gelatin sticks, electric detonators, and gunpowder. Notably, the barcodes on the boxes were deliberately obliterated.
In response to the discovery, senior police officials ordered the relocation of the lorry and explosives to the Salem City Police firing ground at the foothills of Nagarmalai. The site was subsequently examined by a team comprising senior police officers, intelligence officials, forensic experts, and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad personnel.
The arrested driver, Ilayaraja, claimed innocence, stating that he had been hired to transport hay to Coimbatore. According to his account, the lorry was already loaded when he arrived, and he was instructed to await a phone call from the lorry office in Dharmapuri for the precise destination in Coimbatore.
In light of Ilayaraja’s statement, investigative teams were dispatched to Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri, the origin of the explosives en route to Dharmapuri and ultimately Coimbatore.
It is essential to note that a crude explosive incident occurred near Ukkadam on Eswaran Kovil Street at Kottaimedu on October 23, 2022. One of the suspects, Jamesha Mubeen, lost his life in the blast.
Despite the gravity of the situation, senior police officers have chosen not to comment further on the seizure, underscoring the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation. The incident raises concerns about the potential security threats posed by the illegal transportation of explosives, prompting authorities to remain vigilant in the interest of public safety.
