India, Aug. 19 -- The Odisha police on Monday said they have seized around 9 tonnes of explosives, including gelatin sticks, and 4,000 detonators from the forests of Kandhamal district, an area known to be Maoist hotbed.

"Our personnel have seized around 9 tonnes of explosives and 4,000 detonators from Tumudibandha area in Kandhamal. We have detained two persons for interrogation in this connection. Security personnel had earlier found 600 detonators from a Maoist dump in Kandhamal last month. The detonators seized from both places were of same brand," said Additional Director General of Police (Anti-Naxal Operations) in Odisha, Sanjeeb Panda.

Police said 70 Maoists have been spotted around Kandhamal, Boudh, Kalahandi and Bargahr distri...