Paradip, Jan. 13: The seizure of copper plates of worth Rs 30 lakh near the refinery project of the Indian Oil Corporation has put the security agencies in a spot of bother.

Gaping holes in the security mechanism of the refinery project near Paradip stood exposed with an alleged nexus of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and a scrap-smuggling racket coming to the fore.

Rattled by the charge, the CISF authorities today suspended two of its personnel on the charge of dereliction in duty and lapses in security.

While a sports-utility vehicle carrying the materials smuggled out from the refinery project site was intercepted by police patrol team near the project site yesterday evening, the CISF, which has the responsibility to provide security to the Rs 30,000-crore project, is in the dock.

The police have made a seizure of the copper plates that had been stolen from the Paradip oil refinery project site. The jeep carrying the smuggled materials was allowed to move out of the project security gate that was manned by CISF personnel.

A police patrol unit spotted the vehicle near Abhayachandrapur and its movement in neck-break speed had given rise to suspicion. It was subsequently chased and intercepted. As it was apprehended, the stolen materials were recovered from the jeep, said sub-divisional police officer, Paradip, Bhabani Shankar Mishra.

Two persons, including the driver of the jeep, have been arrested and are being interrogated in this connection, said a source in the police.