Central agencies reach Nagaur to probe explosives recovery case

Jaipur: Central security agencies reached Nagaur Monday following the recovery of a nearly 10,000-kg stockpile of ammonium nitrate, besides cartons full of fuse wires, detonators and other components from a house in Sarhad Harsaur village under Thanwala police station on Jan 24.Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) questioned one person held in this connection as part of a joint probe. He has been identified as Suleman Khan, 58. Nagaur Superintendent of Police Mridul Kachawa said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is currently leading the probe into the matter.Sources involved in the case told TOI that while the investigation is ongoing, preliminary indications point to the explosives being meant for use in illegal mining operations. "We are trying to determine where the explosives were sourced from and who the intended end-users were," the sources said.Khan is not a first-time offender either, with at least three prior criminal cases registered against him at different police stations. "It appears the accused was earlier involved in the legal explosives trade and has technical knowledge of procuring, storing, and supplying explosive materials," the sources added.Cases under the Explosives Act were earlier registered against Khan at Thanwala police station in 2014, and again at Padukalan and Chaupasni police stations in 2020. Police said he operated from the forested areas between Bhrairunda and Harsaur, where he made deliveries of explosives.Sources in Nagar police said the investigation into the case was currently being led by the SIT, but did not rule out the possibility of it being handed over to central agencies.