Teams of the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) of the Madurai district police conducted searches with the help of sniffer dogs and electronic gadgets at different granite quarries in the district on Friday.
Police officials said that after detecting a huge amount of explosives, allegedly hidden in a private quarry’s godown in Tiruvadavur, the police decided to check other quarries as well at random.
The operation, which began early in the morning, went on till 6 p.m. The BDDS teams conducted searches in granite quarries at Navinipatti, Tiruvadavur, Keezhayur, and Keelavalavu. They found explosives and other chemicals, used in mining, hidden underground, and in makeshift godowns. In a quarry at Idayapatti, the sniffer dog detected a spot covered with lorry tyres and other debris. After removing them, the team spotted a pit from where it seized explosive gel.
The police have registered cases under the Explosives Act. No arrests were made so far. However, the seized explosives had been taken for further examination, the police added.
