Koraput: Police have intensified its drive against illegal use of explosives in stone quarrying activities as Maoists are eyeing such units to get explosives.

The police arrested three persons and seized huge quantities of explosives while raiding on two quarries under Borigumma police limits on Saturday night.

According to police, based on intelligence inputs huge amount of explosives are illegally stocked at a quarrying unit in Jayantagiir and Jamunda in Borigumma police limits. Simultaneous raid was conducted on the quarry units around 11.30 pm on Saturday.

"During the raid it was found that the stone quarry owners had not obtained any valid license to use explosive in quarrying activities. They were illegally using it," said Sagarika Nath, a trainee IPS officer posted as inspector in charge of Borigumma police station.

The police arrested R. Nagendra Rao from Jayantigiri and Subash Chandra Sahu and Sibaram Panigrahi were arrested from Jamunda.

They seized 26 packets of instantaneous electronic detonators, three bundles of live codex wire, 38 bundles of safety fuse and 422 numbers of electronic detonators and 73 kg of ammonium nitrate. "The accused have been forwarded to court," Nath said.