Ammonium nitrate, fertiliser, is new terror weapon

Ammonium nitrate, which is commonly used as a fertiliser by farmers all across the country, has been the most sought-after explosive material for the terrorists, especially the Indian Mujahideen in the recent times.

The material, mixed with fuel such as diesel, was used in bombs that exploded in Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and New Delhi in 2008.

Easily available and comparatively less dangerous to handle, ammonium nitrate has become a replacement for the dreaded RDX.

The ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (ANFO) mixture is dried well before it is packed in the containers. Unlike RDX, strong ignition is needed to propel the explosion of the IEDs that use ANFO.

The container is filled with iron balls and shrapnels such as nails and glass pieces, which will act as missiles during the blast.

Tadiyantavide Nazeer, the key figure in the Kerala terror network, had stolen a huge quantity of ammonium nitrate from a godown in Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district.

A small amount of the material was used to make the IEDs that went off in Bengaluru. Police recovered a few kilos of the material from Kannur a year later.

The big question

It is impossible to ban or control the use of ammonium nitrate as it is a cheap fertiliser. So its easy to procure it.