PALAKKAD, Feb 5: Police on Wednesday seized a pick-up van carrying a large quantity of explosives near the Palakkad town area in Kerala.
An officer from the Palakkad Town South police station said the vehicle was found transporting over 100 boxes of gelatin sticks and more than 20 boxes of detonators, concealed beneath a consignment of watermelons. The seizure took place late on Wednesday night (February 4, 2026).
The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody. During preliminary interrogation, he told police that the explosives were loaded from Coimbatore and were being transported to a quarry in Thrissur.
According to the officer, the police intercepted the van during a vehicle inspection after receiving specific information about the illegal transport of large quantities of explosives into the state. When signalled to stop, the driver attempted to flee, prompting a chase before the vehicle was finally stopped.
Police said a case under the Explosive Substances Act will be registered against the driver once the seizure process is completed.
