Bengal: 3,000 gelatin sticks seized by police in Burdwan

As many as 3,000 gelatin sticks, 200 each from 15 sacks, were seized by the police from a vehicle which was allegedly bound for Birbhum district during mandatory checking at a bridge at Mankar in the district on Sunday.

Abdul Kader Sheikh, the driver of the vehicle, which was intercepted by the police at Mankar Bridge in the Budbud police station area, tried to escape, but was caught after a chase, Burdwan Superintendent of Police SMH Meerza said.

Sheikh, 47, who hailed from Hizalgara village under Jamuria PS, admitted during preliminary interrogation that he was taking the explosives from Odisha's Baleswar to Panchla in Birbhum district, police said. The SP said Sheikh would be produced at the Durgapur SDJM's Court on Sunday.

He said police would ascertain if the gelatin sticks had anything to do with the BJP-TMC clash at Birbum's Makra which had left three people dead.