Air tight boxes, trucks: How explosives were taken to J&K, Pg 9

Key Highlights:

• Explosives recovered from a Jaish-e-Mohammad-linked module (also linked to the Red Fort blast) were stored at Nowgam police station.
• Materials included ammonium nitrate, chemicals, batteries, detonators, timers, transported over 1,000 km from Faridabad.
• A massive explosion on Friday night killed nine people.
• Police state they followed standard operating procedures (SOPs): sealed containers, small trucks, secured storage.
• Samples were yet to be sent for forensic analysis, delaying court permission for destruction.
• Officials emphasise that explosive materials cannot be destroyed without court approval; earlier similar cases show proactive action needed.
• Past incidents indicate that large quantities of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely can lead to significant risk.

Detailed Insights:

• Procedural requirements:
  • When material is seized during an investigation, items must be formally inventoried and sent for forensic testing.
  • Forensic analysis must confirm guilt and determine whether objects must be preserved as court evidence.
  • Explosive materials can be destroyed only after court orders, creating delays in high-risk cases.
• Storage and safety challenges:
  • At Nowgam police station, explosive materials were stored in a designated malkhana (strong room).
  • Officials stated that the material was airtight-packed and precautions were taken, but the quantity posed inherent dangers.
  • The officer in charge could not move the material for destruction because forensic testing was pending.
• Structural bottlenecks:
  • Current procedures require moving court for destruction only after forensic sampling; this slows action in cases with highly volatile substances.
  • Example cited: a previous ammonium nitrate seizure in the same area required proactive decision-making with bomb squads to safely neutralise the material.
• Risk factors:
  • Ammonium nitrate is highly unstable in large quantities; poor ventilation or contamination can lead to accidental detonation.
  • Concentrated explosives storage at police stations increases casualty risk during unexpected blasts.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Ammonium Nitrate: Chemical widely used in fertilizers; becomes a powerful explosive when mixed with fuel or contaminants.
• Forensic Analysis: Scientific testing of recovered materials to link them to accused persons and determine legal handling.
• Malkhana: Secure evidence storage room in police stations for seized items.