‘Ammonium nitrate,not RDX used in bombs’

Another senior lab official,on the condition of anonymity,said,“Tests of the six samples have revealed there were no traces of RDX,which is most commonly used as a booster charge in explosive devices. Ammonium nitrate was used,mixed with some oil,most probably fuel oil or furnace oil. Prima facie,the IEDs did not go off fully as the booster charge like RDX or TNT was not used. The lab tests cannot confirm whether humid air or old ammonium nitrate led to the failure.”

Senior ATS officials refused to comment on the report. Some of the officers,who are part of the investigation,said the report had not come. Sources from the forensic sciences lab confirmed that report was handed over to ACP Samad Shaikh,who is the investigating officer for the case.

Before the samples of the six devices were sent to the forensic lab,they were examined in the laboratory of the Institute of IED Management of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Talegaon. Senior officials with the institute said,“The circuit that was used to trigger the blast had a digital clock and an electrically operated relay switch. The circuit was designed in such a way that it would go off even if the clock failed and one of the two batteries got discharged.”

The official added,“There is also a gel like substance in the mixture of ammonium nitrate and oil.”