Police seize 14 sacks of ammonium nitrate in Allahabad

Allahabad, Sept 29 : Police seized 14 sacks of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used in the recent spate of bomb blasts in the country, along with 1200 feet of fuse wire after a raid at a store in Allahabad on Sunday. The chemical was used in the recent serial blasts in New Delhi that killed 23 people almost a fortnight ago and Mehrauli blast that killed three and injured 22.

The seizure came after a delivery van carrying three sacks of ammonium nitrate along with 400 feet of fuse wire was caught in the city.

"A man named Rajesh Kumar was arrested from whom three sacks of ammonium nitrate and 400 feet fuse wire were seized. And when we interrogated him he said that it belongs to Gulab Patel who's store is on the border of Madhya Pradesh. When our officials from the police station went and raided the spot they found 11 more sacks of ammonium nitrate," Lalji Shukla, Senior Superintendent of Police, Allahabad.

Ammonium nitrate, generally used as a fertilizer for raising crops, makes an explosive mixture when combined with a hydrocarbon, usually diesel fuel (oil), or sometimes kerosene or (fine) coal dust.

ANI