Shivamogga blast: Involvement of people with political influence in illegal trade of explosives

Shivamogga: Eastern Range IG S Ravi led team of officials found the involvement of people with political influence to be operating the racket of illegal trade of explosives in Shivamogga for several years.

As per the reports, the people involved in the trade have been bringing explosives in huge quantities from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and other states to the city. Later selling them to owners of stone crusher units and stone quarries at a profitable price.  The explosive materials include, gelatin sticks, dynamites, ammonium nitrate and detonator.

Further it was revealed that there have been teams set up for the transport and distribution of explosives, more than 10 tonnes of explosives were brought in lorries and were parked in quarries for distribution. Following which the explosives were sent out to owners of crusher units in jeeps, depending on their requirement.

On the day of the blast, it was found that around 18 people were in stone crusher unit at Hunasodu village, when around three tonnes of explosives were brought in lorries to the site, the workers loaded the explosives in jeep while others left for dinner. The blast occurred when six workers were loading the explosives into the jeep and lost their lives.