The Mangaon police on September 4 recovered more than 800 electronic detonators and 46 pieces of gelatin sticks from two persons in Raigad District in Maharashtra.
Raigad superintendent of police Anil Paraskar said, “We have recovered gelatin sticks and detonators and arrested the two persons under the Explosives Act and the Explosive Substances Act.”
The local police have arrested the two men and an initial investigation has revealed that both of the accused used the explosive for illegal mining and illegal fishing in the region, said Inspector VS Jagtap.
Paraskar reportedly said that some fishermen were injured recently in a blast while they were engaged in fishing activity in the Arabian Sea.
The search operation was initiated after security personnel received a tip-off. Police raided the house of first suspect Mohammad Umar Jahir Kazi at Bhalghar village in Mangaon tehsil in Raigad and seized 46 gelatin sticks, some detonators and other related material.
Following the seizure second suspect was also arrested from Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri District who used to sell these explosives to Kazi.
The police added that the investigation is still underway. Dynamite fishing practice, where explosives are used to stun or kill fish, is an illegal practice.
