In one case in Chandigarh, two senior officials in the office of the Deputy Chief Controller were trapped while accepting a bribe from a manufacturer. In all, the PESO cancelled as many as 829 licences last year (2005-2006)though not all for security-related reasons.

The PESO informed the Government that “due to limited manpower” it was not possible to check monthly returns of the approximately 22,000 explosive manufacturers, but that they were proposing to commence an online check of all intra-state and inter-state transportation of explosives for which a pilot project was already operational in Mumbai.

However, this proposal didn’t find favour in New Delhi. Home Secretary Gupta cautioned that a nationwide online audit did not seem feasible at this stage. “We have to step up enforcement to control diversion of explosives which has become a very serious concern,” he asserted. “And we have to ensure that all cases of explosive theft and pilferage end up in prosecution.”

Ammonium Nitrate: Terror’s choice

• March 7, 2006: Around 20 people were killed in blasts in Varanasi. Mixture of RDX and ammonium nitrate was packed in pressure cookers and used as bombs

• July 11, 2006: 186 killed in rush-hour serial blasts in Mumbai local trains. Mixture of RDX and ammonium nitrate was used

• September 8, 2006: 28 people were killed in blasts near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra. Cocktail of RDX, ammonium nitrate and fuel oil used

• May 18, 2007: At least 13 people were killed in blasts at the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad. Mixture of RDX and TNT was used, cell phone was trigger

... contd.