Nagpur police arrest coal mine worker for transporting live detonators

A coal mine worker has been arrested in Nagpur after allegedly stealing live detonators and mobile phones from a worksite. The accused, 35-year-old Rajendra Ramlal Vishwakarma, reportedly took the items from a Western Coalfields Limited mine in Varora, Chandrapur district, following a dispute over unpaid wages.

Vishwakarma traveled by train from Chandrapur to Nagpur while carrying the live explosives in his pocket. Lakadganj police apprehended him at Ajamshah Chowk as he was attempting to sell a stolen mobile phone. During the arrest, authorities recovered three mobile phones and two live detonators. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad confirmed the explosives were dangerous and handed them over to the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO).

In addition to local police, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has launched a parallel investigation to determine if the theft was strictly related to the wage dispute or part of a larger security threat. Charges have been filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act, and the Explosives Act.