On January 25, 2026, the Rajasthan Police carried out one of the largest seizures under the Explosives Act in the state’s history. Just 24 hours before India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations, authorities in the Nagaur district found about 10,000 kilograms of explosive materials. This included a large amount of ammonium nitrate, detonators, and fuse wires.
The Operation:
A Midnight Raid in Nagaur
Acting on specific information about the illegal storage and trafficking of explosives, a team including the District Special Team (DST) and officers from the Thanwala Police Station conducted a late-night raid on January 24, 2026.
They targeted a secluded farmhouse on agricultural land in Sarhad Harsaur village, Nagaur. The isolated location allowed the suspect to store dangerous materials away from public view.
The Inventory of Seized Materials
The scale of the recovery was impressive. According to Nagaur Superintendent of Police (SP) Mridul Kachhawa, they seized:
– Ammonium Nitrate: 9,550 kg (packed in 187 sacks).
– Detonators: Nine full cartons.
– Fuse Wires: 12 cartons and 15 bundles of blue fuse wire, as well as 12 cartons and five bundles of red fuse wire.
– Other Components: Cartons of large and small “gullas,” dudet material, and packets of APSOD explosive substances.
The Accused: Suleman Khan
The police arrested Suleman Khan, 58, a Harsaur resident, at the scene. This is not his first offense; he has a history of illegally handling explosives.
Prior Record: He has at least three prior cases against him under the Explosives Act in Nagaur and Alwar.
Security Context: The “26-26” Terror Alert
The timing of this seizure has raised alarms among national security agencies. The raid took place amid a nationwide high alert for Republic Day (January 26, 2026).
Coded Threats: Intelligence agencies recently detected suspicious online activity linked to the code “26-26.” This is thought to reference coordinated threats planned for January 26.
Ammonium Nitrate Risks: While mostly an industrial fertilizer, ammonium nitrate is a main ingredient in many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Officials noted its connection to previous major explosions, including a recent blast near Delhi’s Red Fort in November 2025.
Central Involvement: Due to the large amount seized—capable of causing serious damage if misused—central intelligence agencies and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are likely to question Suleman Khan to see if there is a connection between the “mining supply” and organized terror groups.
Broader Trend of Explosive Seizures
This incident is part of several significant recoveries in Rajasthan in the past two months, indicating a rise in the illegal explosives trade:
– December 31, 2025: 150 kg of ammonium nitrate was seized from a car on the Jaipur-Tonk Highway.
– December 2, 2025: A truck loaded with gelatin sticks and detonators was stopped in Rajsamand.
Jaipur:
Ahead of Republic Day, police in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district seized a huge cache of explosives from a farm and arrested a man in connection with the recovery, officials said on Sunday.
Acting on a tip-off, the police conducted a raid late Saturday night in Harsaur village, where 9,550 kg of ammonium nitrate packed in 187 sacks was recovered from a field, Nagaur Superintendent of Police Mridul Kachhawa said.
Ammonium nitrate has previously been linked to major blast cases, including an explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort in November 2025, officials noted.
Suleman Khan, a resident of Harsaur village, was arrested at the spot. He has three previous criminal cases registered against him, the SP said.
Besides ammonium nitrate, police also seized a large quantity of explosive accessories, including nine cartons of detonators, 12 cartons and 15 bundles of blue fuse wire, and 12 cartons and five bundles of red fuse wire, officials said.
Preliminary interrogation has revealed that the accused was allegedly supplying explosives to people involved in legal and illegal mining activities, Kachhawa said, adding that a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Explosives Act.
The SP further mentioned that Central agencies have been notified about the seizure and are expected to question Suleman as part of a wider probe.
Nagaur Superintendent of Police Mridul Kachhawa said preliminary questioning revealed that the accused supplied the material to people involved in illegal mining activities.
“He admitted during initial interrogation that the explosive material was being sold to those engaged in unlawful mining operations,” the officer said.
Police believe the recovered consignment is worth several crores of rupees in the illegal market.
Investigators found that Suleman has a criminal history, with three previous cases registered against him. Two of these are currently under trial, while he was acquitted in one case.
A case has been registered against him under the Explosives Act of 1884, the Explosive Substances Act of 1908 and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is underway.
“If any links with networks operating in other states emerge, central agencies will also be involved,” Kachhawa said.
The arrest was made following coordinated action by the district special team and the Thawla police, who had received inputs about the storage of illegal explosives in the area.
Police said technical surveillance and local intelligence helped track the movement and storage of the material, leading to the successful operation.
Authorities are now examining the supply chain of the explosives, including their source and intended buyers. Officials are also verifying whether the consignment was meant for use in large-scale illegal mining or other unlawful activities.
“The investigation is focused on identifying all those involved in the procurement, storage and distribution of these explosives,” a senior officer said.
The accused has been produced before a court and remanded to police custody, while further raids and questioning are expected in the coming days.
