Nanded Police seize ten detonators from the house of prime accused in suspicious detonator blast case

The Nanded Police have seized ten electronic detonators found illegally kept in a carry bag at residence of Deepak Digambar Dhongade ( 24) who was arrested in connection with a suspicious detonator blast in his house in Shantinagar area of the city during the night of January 8. The police learnt about the blast four days after the incident and lodged an FIR on January 14 under IPC 286 ( negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance ) ,34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and section 4 and 5 of Explosives Substances Act 1908 at Itwara Police Station.

Besides Dhongade, his step sister’s husband Keshav Pawar from the neighboring Parbhani District has been booked in the case. An injured Dhongade got himself admitted in a private hospital and he was later arrested by the police after being discharged. At the time of getting admitted, the accused had claimed that he was trying to light a bulb and had got injured in the incident. A number of private hospitals rejected him admission on the grounds of suspicious injuries. Currently he is in judicial custody after remaining in police custody for two days following his being produced in the court. Keshwa Pawar was arrested on Thursday and is being produced in the court today.

On January 11, Karim Inamdar, District Secretary of Popular Front of India filed a complaint to the Itwara Police Station In charge in which he demanded legal action into the detonator blast incident. He stated “A loud sound of explosion was heard in the house of Deepak Dhongde between 7 and 8 pm on Jan 8, 2022 in which he was injured and the impact of the explosion could be seen on the walls of the house. He was admitted to Bhagwati Hospital in Shivajinagar in Nanded. We doubt that he or any of family members are engaged in preparing some explosive item or were practising to prepare the explosive material. It is suspected that they wanted to engage in some kind of terrorist or religious strife. You are requested to probe the incident and find out if there is any organisation or conspiracy behind it ,” the letter stated.

Senior Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Itwara Division Dr Siddheshwar More in his report to the SP entitled 'Unlawful possession and storage of electronic detonators' related to the case stated “Confidential information was received on Jan 13 that an explosion took place inside the residence of Deepak Dhongade between 7 to 8 pm on Jan 8 in which he was injured and his relative Keshav Pawar was in possession of illegal explosives in the house. Search was conducted at his house in Shantinagar in which ten electronic detonators were found which were checked by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS). The explosives could be life threatening and were found in a carry bag. The detonators were given to Dhongde by Pawar and were stored unlawfully and illegally which could be life threatening to others. PSI Ganesh Gotke gave a complaint at Itwara Police Station dated Jan 14 and an FIR was lodged in the case ,” he stated.

Nanded SP Pramod Kumar Shewale while talking to media persons said “Dhongde who is a resident of Shantinagar was injured in a minor blast inside his house on Jan 8. During his statement to the police, he said that he was trying to light a bulb which later exploded. Later through confidential sources (it was revealed), that there was an explosion at that place. Ten detonators have been recovered from his residence. During the interrogation, he said that his relative Pawar had obtained them and investigation is on to trace the source. ”

PSI Asad Shaikh, the investigating officer in the case said, “The second accused has been arrested in the case and will be produced in the court. Further details can be shared only later”.

On April 6, 2006, a mysterious blast in the house of a retired executive engineer of the irrigation department had left two persons dead and three others seriously injured. The state intelligence department in its classified report to the home department had indicated the involvement of the right wing organization in the case.