Diwana (Haryana): Forensic experts who collected samples and recced the scene of the blasts that rocked the Atari Express on Sunday midnight said on Monday that a deadly cocktail of low-intensity explosives and kerosene bombs was used to trigger the blasts in the Delhi-Atari special train, which claimed the lives of 66 passengers.
After preliminary investigations, the forensic experts who collected samples from the scene of blasts were of the view that low-intensity explosives like sulphur or nitrate were used to trigger the explosions and kerosene-filled bottles kept in the bogies were used as a catalyst to spread the fire.
The experts recovered several kerosene bottles, three pipe bombs and some low-intensity explosive devices from other compartments of the train, which caught fire at midnight.
"The modus operandi is new. They had used low-intensity explosives to trigger the blast and kerosene to ignite the fire. The idea, it seems, was to cause large-scale destruction by fire," PTI quoted J S Mahanwal, Director of Forensic Laboratory, Haryana, as saying.
The forensic experts said they are yet to find out whether a time device or some other equipment like flash were used to trigger the explosives. "We have collected samples and will soon find out how the explosives were triggered."
Initial investigations have also ruled out the use of RDX in the explosions and is moving on the assumption that sulphur or nitrate were used. "We have defused two pipe bombs, two IEDs and recovered 10 to 15 kerosene bottles from three compartments," Mahanwal said.
PAGE_BREAK
The experts said igniting fire in a moving train can cause large-scale destruction as was evident from the Godhra episode in Gujarat.
The tragedy has also raised questions on the security at the Old Delhi railway station, as the explosives were believed to have been planted at the starting point of the journey. "It is no doubt a terror attack," Mahanwal said.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened across the capital following the incident with Delhi Police instructing its personnel to be on high alert, a senior police official said. More personnel have been deployed at all sensitive places, including Metro and railway stations. "We are keeping a tight vigil. Our men are being alerted," he said.
Union Home Secretary V K Duggal and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon held an emergency meeting on Monday monring to deliberate on the situation arising from the incident. Menon met Duggal at Vigyan Bhavan where the Home Secretary was attending a meeting on naxalism.
(With agency inputs)
Comments
0 comment