In a high-stakes operation that averted a potential catastrophe, Rajasthan Police on New Year’s Eve intercepted a vehicle carrying 150 kilograms of ammonium nitrate—the same explosive substance used in the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort in November—and arrested two individuals in Tonk district.
The Special Team of Tonk Police, acting on precise intelligence, stopped a Maruti Ciaz car in the Baroni police station area late Wednesday. Upon searching the vehicle, officials discovered the ammonium nitrate cleverly concealed in sacks of urea fertiliser.
Superintendent of Police Mrityunjay Mishra confirmed the seizure and arrests, identifying the accused as Surendra Patwa and Surendra Mochi, both residents of Bundi district. “Explosives were seized from a Maruti Ciaz car. 150 kg of ammonium nitrate was hidden in sacks of urea,” stated SP Mishra.
Along with the volatile chemical, police also recovered 200 explosive batteries and six bundles of safety fuse wire, measuring approximately 1100 metres in total. The car used for transportation has been impounded.
Initial investigations suggest the accused were transporting the material from Bundi to Tonk for suspected supply operations. The recovery has triggered alarm given the destructive potential of ammonium nitrate, a chemical compound commonly used in industrial explosives but infamously misused in major terrorist attacks worldwide, including the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and more recently, the Beirut port explosion in 2020.
The November 10 blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, which also involved ammonium nitrate, adds grave significance to this interception. While police are exploring all angles—including possible links to illegal mining activities, where such explosives are often used unlawfully—the sheer quantity seized raises urgent questions about the intended target and scale of the planned operation.
“An investigation is underway,” SP Mishra emphasised, noting that the operation was executed swiftly based on specific inputs. Authorities are now intensively interrogating the arrested individuals to unravel the supply chain, pinpoint the source of the explosives, and expose any wider network or planned illicit activity.
The timely seizure has been hailed as a significant victory for Rajasthan Police, potentially preventing loss of life and disruption during the New Year celebrations. It also underscores the critical need for continued vigilance and robust intelligence-sharing mechanisms to combat the illicit trade and transport of hazardous materials.
As the probe deepens, security agencies across the region remain on high alert, aware that the prevention of this threat marks not an end, but a crucial breakthrough in a larger, ongoing battle against terror and organised crime.
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