SOG nabs man with huge cache of explosives in Tapi

The Special Operations Group (SOG) in Tapi-Vyara district in Gujarat on Saturday night arrested a suspicious looking man with a huge cache of explosive materials. This is the fourth such case in just two months, said officials.

Upon intelligence that explosives had been brought into the district, SOG officials set up a road block in Songadh taluka of the district and arrested Mahendra Bhuralal Jain, a resident of Rajasthan, for possession of explosives without permit.

Police officials said that Jain was transporting 400 gelatin sticks and 450 electrical blasting caps in a plastic bag hung from the hook of his motorcycle when he was apprehended by the SOG team.

Temporarily staying at Gunsada village in Songadh in Tapi, and originally hailing from Uthnol village, Nathdwara taluka of Rajsamand district in Rajasthan, Jain said he got the explosives from a man, identified as Suman Gavit, resident of Kotda in Navapur taluka of Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district.

Police are now looking for Gavit.

However, they do not suspect any foul play in the case. PI RS Patel, investigation officer (IO) from SOG said, “These explosives are often used to blow up stones in wells which cannot be broken during digging. At one time, about 10-15 sticks are used for this purpose so this was a very large amount to be carried around.”

Police on Sunday secured three-day remand of the accused till Tuesday and officials said investigation is underway.