Kerala Police Seize Van Loaded with Explosives

Police in Kerala’s Palakkad area seized a pick-up van carrying more than 100 boxes of explosives, officials said on Thursday.

An officer from the Palakkad Town South police station said the vehicle contained over 100 boxes of gelatin sticks and more than 20 boxes of detonators. The explosives had been hidden under a load of watermelons to avoid detection.

The seizure happened late on Wednesday night. Authorities in the state have increased security across Kerala ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, making such operations more likely.

Police are investigating the origin of the explosives and the people responsible for transporting them. The successful recovery has been praised as an important step in ensuring public safety and preventing potential misuse during the election period.