Nepalese citizen arrested with 2 sticks of industrial explosive

Pilibhit: A 50-year-old Nepalese citizen was arrested by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) on Wednesday after being caught with two sticks of industrial explosives near the Indo-Nepal border.Accused Kanahiya Rana was intercepted by a patrolling squad from the SSB’s 49th battalion while attempting to cross the Sharda river from the border village of Gabhia Sahrai. Upon searching him, officials recovered two 5 inch-long industrial explosive sticks, weighing 125 grams each and branded as “INDO SUPER POWER 90.”Following a complaint by SSB head constable Gokul Chand Jat, an FIR was registered at Madhotanda police station under the Explosives Act.According to Puranpur circle officer Prateek Dahiya, preliminary investigation revealed that Rana had been working as a laborer on infrastructure projects in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath area, where such explosives are frequently used to blast mountains. Rana claimed he had smuggled the explosives to mix the powder with organic oils as a makeshift treatment for a skin condition.Police are currently investigating whether the explosives were stolen and are working to determine Rana’s precise motives. The seized material has been sent to a govt forensic laboratory for testing.