Palakkad, Feb 05: Police on Wednesday seized a pick-up van carrying more than 100 boxes of explosives near the Palakkad town area, officials said.
An officer from the Palakkad Town South police station said the vehicle was found carrying over 100 boxes of gelatin sticks along with more than 20 boxes of detonators. The explosives were concealed beneath a consignment of watermelons. The seizure was made late on Wednesday, he added.
The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody. During preliminary questioning, he told police that the explosives had been loaded from Coimbatore and were being transported to a quarry in Thrissur.
Police intercepted the pick-up van during a routine vehicle inspection after receiving specific information that a large quantity of explosives was being illegally transported into the state. “The driver failed to stop despite being signalled by the police, following which the vehicle was chased and intercepted,” the officer said.
He added that a case under the Explosive Substances Act will be registered against the driver after completion of seizure formalities. (Agencies)
