Gangtok, May 2: Sikkim police have warned companies engaged in hydel power and road projects to keep a watch on their stocks of explosives so that they do not fall in unauthorised hands.

The companies use the explosives for blasting hills.

The police warning comes after dynamites, gelatin sticks and detonators were seized from different parts of the state recently.

“The companies engaged in heavy construction work like hydel and road projects should maintain a proper record of their explosive substances so that it does not fall in unauthorised hands,” said Akshay Sachdeva, the deputy inspector-general of police (range), today.

A police patrol had found six gelatin sticks and two detonators along with electric cables on the bank of the Rangit on Wednesday. A gang of unidentified persons who were reportedly using the explosives for fishing in the river, however, managed to escape leaving them behind.

Four dynamites and five detonators had also been found in an unclaimed bag at Chisopani in South Sikkim’s Jorethang on April 15.

“It is because of the negligence on the part of the engineers and contractors of the projects that such pilferage is taking place,” said Sachdeva.

The official also warned the companies of police action if any negligence was found on their part.

Gati Infrastructure, which is developing three hydel projects in Sikkim, has ruled out the possibility of pilferage.

“There is very little chance of theft from private companies. We ensure that such pilferage does not take place as we strictly enforce the rules related to the use of explosives,” said B.K. Khabrani, the general manager of the company.