Hydel worker caught smuggling detonators

PURAN TAMANG
NAMCHI, 08 Feb: A labourer engaged with HCC, a construction company under contract with hydel project developer Lanco at Adit II and III at Karek below Namthang in South Sikkim, was arrested by Melli check post police yesterday when he was caught trying to smuggle explosive items out of state.
Source inform that one Gopal Tamang, working as a labourer at a Lanco construction site, was caught while trying to leave the State from Melli check-post in possession of 18 detonators used to fire dynamites.
The DC [South], AK Singh, while speaking to NOW!, further informed that upon receiving information from the Police, a magisterial raid was carried out at the construction site and the magazine house [where explosives are stocked] of Lanco Pvt. Ltd.
The DC informed that this magisterial raid detected some slackness in how the stock of explosives was being maintained and some portion of the magazine house was accordingly sealed.
The DC added that he will soon be submitting the findings of his investigation to the Police for further action. He also added that no further arrests have been made in connection with the pilferage and attempted smuggling of the explosives. He also confirmed that the confiscated detonators have not yet been conclusively traced back to the Lanco Magazine House. These could also have been stolen from the HCC construction site.
Meanwhile, the SP [South], Manoj Tiwari, who is currently on leave, while speaking over the phone, informed that the police was investigating the case in detail and trying to get to the bottom of things.