Home / Crime and Justice / Massive Detonator Thefts Plague India
Massive Detonator Thefts Plague India
30 Mar
Summary
- Thousands of detonators are consistently stolen from magazines.
- A major theft in Chhattisgarh preceded an electric detonator ban.
- Decades of data reveal staggering amounts of explosives missing.
Data obtained via an RTI application reveals a persistent and alarming trend of explosives theft from magazines across India, with Naxalism-affected regions being particularly vulnerable. Detonators, crucial for blasting, represent the most frequently stolen explosive devices, with thousands reported missing over various periods.
A significant incident on August 6, 2023, involved the theft of 1,829 detonators and 110 kgs of explosives from Janjgir Champa in Chhattisgarh. This event occurred just two months before the government banned electric detonators on October 3, 2023, citing security concerns and public safety.
Further data indicates a history of large-scale thefts. Uttar Pradesh reported 61,311 detonators stolen over a decade, though specifics remain unclear. Earlier reports from 2010-2011 revealed thefts of over 2,18,624 detonators, along with significant quantities of other explosives, from states like Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh.
Historical data from 2004-2006 also points to a staggering scale of looting, with nearly 87,000 detonators, over 150 kg of slurry explosives, and thousands of meters of detonating fuse stolen. Despite these revelations, some PESO offices have claimed no information, citing data sensitivity or volume as reasons for non-disclosure.
