Mumbai: 

Lethal combo: Ammonium nitrate by itself is not an explosive (left), but can be lethal if mixed with ingredients like fuel oil, which is then called ANFO (ammonium nitrate fuel oil explosive)

Following the serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, investigators have unearthed a sinister pattern. The rampant use of ammonium nitrate as an ingredient in high intensity explosives has emerged as a worrying factor for law enforcement agencies and forensic experts.

Ammonium nitrate, which is easily available in chemical shops, is used as a fertilizer and an oxidising agent in laboratories. However, when mixed with a hydrocarbon (fuel), it makes a potent explosive mixture.

Dr Rukmini Krishnamurthy, director of the Forensic Science Laboratory at Kalina, has suggested that the Centre should impose a check on the sale and usage of ammonium nitrate. She explained that when RDX is mixed with ammonium nitrate and lubricant oil, the damage caused could be enormous.

Potent mixture

The mixture was used in the Mumbai train blasts as well as Jaipur, Bangalore,Ahmedabad, Ghatkopar, Mulund and Vile Parle blasts.

The central home department is planning to implement a system to check the usage and over the counter sale of ammonium nitrate. A senior home department official told MiD DAY, "The department is looking into this aspect, but it would be too premature to comment on any policy issues at this stage."

Joint Commissioner of Police (ATS) Hemant Karkare said, "The modalities are being examined to understand if such a check can be maintained on the sale, purchase and storage of ammonium nitrate."

The state had earlier imposed a ban on the easy sale of Acetic Anhydride, a chemical used in converting opium to brown sugar. The restricted supply of the chemical reduced the availability of brown sugar, and a similar process is needed for ammonium nitrate. 

Used in...

>BEST bus blast in Ghatkopar
> Mulund railway blast,
> Vile Parle railway blast
> Mumbai train blasts
> Jaipur blast