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Huge RDX cache has Beas police on edge
PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service

About the explosive RDX (Research Developed Explosive) is better known as cyclotrimethylene trinitramine, cyclonite or hexogen Is widely used in military and industrial applications and is regarded as one of the most powerful explosives Unlike dynamite, RDX is highly stable

While adequate measures have been taken to avoid a mishap, the huge stock of explosive poses grave risk not only to the lives of the police staff but also to those living there. — Preet Paul Singh Virk, Amritsar rural police chief

Amritsar, January 19
The Beas police station sits on a powder keg, for a huge stock of RDX, a deadly explosive seized over the years, including during militancy, is yet to be disposed of safely.

The Punjab Police has written several times to the Ministry of Defence to safely dispose of the explosive but have failed to elicit any response. They have now sent another reminder to the ministry.

Over 100 kgs of explosive material, enough to destroy an entire town in case of an accidental explosion, is lying at the police station, say police sources.

In February 2004, the RDX stashed in the “malkhana” (record room) went off accidentally at the district court complex. Though no casualty was reported, around 25 persons were injured in the incident, besides causing extensive damage to the building.

The RDX, majority of which was seized during the heyday of terrorism by various police stations in Amritsar district, was stashed at the Beas police station as it fell in the sparsely populated Mand area.

“The idea behind putting the entire stock of the RDX at a single place was to ensure that the explosive could be defused safely,” said a senior police officer. But with the passage of time, the area developed into a township and now houses a prominent ‘dera’ that is visited by a large number of devotees every day.

Amritsar rural police district, created during militancy and under whose jurisdiction the Beas police station falls, has again written to the Centre requesting them to dispose of the RDX.