NIA Arrests Three More in Kerala Explosives Seizure Case, Total Arrests Rise to 11

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested three more men in connection with the seizure of a large cache of illegal explosives in Kerala’s Malappuram district, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 11.

The latest accused arrested by the agency have been identified as Mantagoud Biradar, Bapagoud Bheeramaya Choudri and Prakash Gauda Biradar, all natives of Vijayapura district in Karnataka. The three were arrested from their home district, the NIA said in a statement.

The case pertains to the seizure of 89,600 explosive sticks and 10,500 NONEL shock tubes by the Kerala Police on February 7, 2026. The case was subsequently taken over and re-registered by the NIA.

According to the agency, the explosives were found loaded in a lorry bearing registration number KL 10 BF 8395, which was parked in the compound of Farha Hollow Bricks Company, opposite an Indian Oil petrol pump on the Chemmad-Thalappara Road in Malappuram.

The persons intercepted with the lorry were arrested after they allegedly failed to produce valid licences or permissions required for the possession and transportation of the explosives.

As part of its investigation, the NIA conducted searches at 19 locations across Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The agency said its probe has established that the accused were licensed dealers and users of explosives but allegedly sold the explosives seized in the case in violation of legal requirements.

The latest arrests are part of the agency’s ongoing investigation into the illegal procurement, sale and transportation of the explosive materials.