A labourer travelled by train from Chandrapur to Nagpur carrying two live detonators after fleeing with stolen mobile phones and explosives over unpaid wages. Lakadganj police caught the accused on Wednesday while he was trying to sell a stolen mobile phone at Azamshah Square. He was identified as Rajendra Ramlal Vishwakarma (35), a resident of Balod in Chhattisgarh. Acting on a tip-off, a police team reached the spot and detained Vishwakarma. During a search, police recovered three mobile phones and two live detonators from his possession. According to the preliminary investigation, Vishwakarma worked as a labourer through a contractor at a WCL coal mine in Warora. He told police that the contractor had not paid his wages. Angry over the issue, he stole three mobile phones belonging to the contractor. He also took two detonators from the mine site and fled.

 

Shockingly, he travelled from Chandrapur to Nagpur by train with the live explosives. The recovery of the detonators raised serious safety concerns. Had they exploded during the journey, the consequences could have been severe, police said. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) was immediately called to the Lakadganj police station. The team examined both detonators and found them to be live. They were safely defused and sealed. The detonators will now be sent to the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) for technical examination and further safety procedures. Police are probing how Vishwakarma obtained the detonators and why he brought them to Nagpur. Investigators are also questioning WCL officials and the contractor concerned. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has been informed about the recovery.

 

An ATS team visited the Lakadganj police station and collected information about the case. Police are also checking Vishwakarma’s contacts and trying to trace the source of the detonators. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Arms Act and Explosives Act. Vishwakarma is in police custody and is being questioned. The operation was carried out under the guidance of DCP Rahul Madne. Sr PI Mukund Kawade, PSI Sagar Bhandari and police personnel Deepak Pofle, Sagar Shinde, Rajatsinghe, Porate, Suraj Madavi and Arvind Tayde were part of the team.