Malappuram, Aug 9 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another accused, identified as Haris TA, in connection with the seizure of a huge consignment of illegal explosives in Kerala’s Malappuram district, taking the total number of arrests in the case to ten, officials said on Sunday.
According to the officials, Haris, a main conspirator in the illegal procurement of the explosives seized in the case, was arrested on Saturday from Manjeri in Malappuram.
The case relates to the seizure of 89,600 explosive sticks and 10,500 shock tubes (NONEL) from a lorry parked in the compound of Farha Hollow Bricks Company on the Chemmad-Thalappara Road in Malappuram on February 7.
“The lorry, bearing registration number KL 10 BF 8395, was intercepted by the Kerala Police, which arrested three persons found in connection with the consignment. The accused did not possess valid licences or permissions for transporting or possessing the explosives,” the NIA said in a statement.
Subsequently, the NIA re-registered the case and took over the investigation.
During the probe, the agency conducted searches at 19 locations across three states, leading to the collection of incriminating material and the identification of additional persons involved in the conspiracy, officials mentioned.
Ten persons, including this, have so far been arrested in the case. The latest arrest of Haris comes a day after the NIA arrested three more accused from Vijayapura in Karnataka on August 7.
The accused were identified as Mantagoud Biradar, Bapagoud Bheeramaya Choudri and Prakash Gauda Biradar. All three, natives of Vijayapura district in Karnataka, were arrested in Vijayapura.
The NIA has found that the accused, despite being licensed dealers and users of explosives, had sold the explosives seized in violation of applicable legal requirements.
Meanwhile, the NIA said that an investigation into the larger conspiracy and the illegal procurement and movement of the explosives is continuing.
Further details are awaited.
–IANS
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