Rajasthan: Terror Scare On New Year's Eve As Police Seize Car With 150 Kg Explosives

Jaipur: In a major breakthrough, the District Special Team (DST) of the Rajasthan Police arrested two persons and seized 150 kg of explosives from their car in Tonk district on Wednesday.

Talking to the media, DSP Mrityunjay Mishra informed that the arrested accused have been identified as Surendra Patwa and Surendra Mochi. Both of them hail from Bundi district in Rajasthan. Acting on a tip-off, DST officials intercepted a car in the Baroni police station area and recovered around 150 kg of ammonium nitrate, which was reportedly in sacks containing urea fertiliser.

According to the police, the accused were allegedly transporting the consignment of explosive material along with 200 cartridges and six bundles of safety fuse wire, measuring approximately 1,100 metres from Bundi to Tonk. The police are interrogating the arrested accused and an investigation has been launched to determine whether the consignment was intended to be used for illegal activities, including mining.

"A major operation was carried out promptly after receiving specific intelligence inputs in which explosives were seized from a vehicle. Two accused have been arrested, and the investigation is being carried out. We are probing all aspects in the case," DSP Mrityunjay Mishra said.

What is Ammonium nitrate?

Ammonium nitrate is a white crystalline chemical which often used as a fertiliser. This chemical was used along with other high-grade explosives in the blast that took place near the Red Fort in New Delhi last month. At least 12 people had been killed in that incident while several others had been injured. The white Maruti Ciaz car that was being used to transport the consignment has also been seized.

An assessment of the blast site by the law enforcement agencies had revealed that Umar-un-Nabi, the alleged bomber, may have failed to assemble the improvised explosive device (IED) in a proper manner, which caused the bomb to explode before it could be transported to the intended target spot.