Raipur: Raipur Police on Wednesday arrested a 49-year-old man for allegedly leaving a bag containing IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) and an air pistol at the house of a Mitanin (community health volunteer) in the Birgaon area. The accused, identified as Vinay Kumar Dewangan, had been absconding since May 7.
According to police, the accused was traced and arrested near Ring Road No. 2 in Bhanpuri after continuous surveillance and technical tracking. Dewangan is a resident of Trimurti Nagar, Birgaon.
The case surfaced after complainant Pushpa Sahu informed Khamtarai police that Dewangan, who was known to her, had visited her residence at Pragati Chowk, Birgaon on the night of May 6. Before leaving, he allegedly kept a black handbag at the house and said he would collect it the next morning.
When the accused failed to return till around 9 am the next day, Sahu became suspicious and checked the bag. She reportedly found bomb-like objects and a weapon-like item, following which she immediately alerted the police.
A police team, along with the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) and ballistic experts, reached the spot and recovered the bag. During examination, officials found three bottle-shaped IEDs wrapped in black and orange adhesive tape with protruding wires and connectors attached to them.
Police said the bag also contained a 4-volt battery, an IED triggering mechanism fitted with an LED indicator, a mobile SIM chip, filaments, and an air pistol marked “Globus Power Air Weapon.”
The BDS team safely diffused the explosive devices at the spot. Preliminary examination using an explosive detection kit reportedly confirmed the presence of explosive substances. The seized materials were later sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for detailed analysis.
Based on the complaint and investigation, police registered a case against Dewangan under Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act. During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to assembling the explosive devices. He reportedly told investigators that he was facing domestic disputes and had prepared the explosives with the intention of ending his life.
Police also seized a motorcycle bearing registration number CG 04 MK 2712, along with batteries, cracker jointers, and electrical wiring allegedly used in assembling the devices. The accused was later produced before a local court and remanded to judicial custody.
