Explosives loot case: NIA chargesheets 11 Maoists in Odisha

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a press release today informed that it has chargesheeted 11 accused in a case relating to loot of around 4,000 kg of explosives by armed cadres of the CPI (Maoist) terror organisation during transportation to a stone quarry in Odisha’s Rourkela.

As informed by the NIA, all 11 have been charged under various sections of UA(P) Act, BNSS, Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act. During investigation, NIA had found these accused to have been actively involved in the criminal conspiracy, planning and execution of the loot of around 200 explosive packets, each containing 20 kg of explosives.

The explosives were being transported from Itma Explosive Station to the Banko stone quarry on 27th May 2025. The vehicle, along with its driver, had been forcibly seized by 10-15 armed Maoists and was being taken to a stronghold of the terrorist organisation in the nearby jungle.

NIA, which took over the case from the local police in June, found during investigation that the huge quantity of explosives had been looted for use against the Government machinery, including police and security forces, through the commission of terror acts. The loot was part of a conspiracy of CPI (Maoist) to disturb the nation’s security and stability.

The 11 chargesheeted accused have been identified as:

Jarja Munda @ Kulu Munda
Anmol @ Sushant@ Lalchand Hembram
Ramesh @ Pritam Manjhi @ Anal Da
Pintu Lohra @ Tigar
Laljit @ Lalu
Shiva Bodra @ Shibu
Amit Munda @ Sukhlal Munda
Ravi @ Biren Singh
Rajesh @ Mansid
Sohan @ Ranga Punem
Aptan @ Chandra Mohan Hansd
Further investigation in the case by the central agency is still underway.