On December 31, 2025, explosive material is recovered from a car in Rajasthan’s Tonk district. Photo credit: Special arrangement
Rajasthan police on Wednesday seized 150 kg of ammonium nitrate, which is used as an ingredient in industrial explosives, along with 200 cartridges and six bundles of security wire from a car on New Year’s Eve in Tonk district. Two persons allegedly transporting the shipment were detained.
The seizure of a massive raid by the District Special Team (DST) could have thwarted a terror plot and averted disaster during the New Year celebrations. Investigating agencies were working to determine the purpose for which the shipment was to be used, including blasting illegal mining sites in the Aravalli Hills.
Tonk Deputy Superintendent of Police Mrityunjay Mishra said explosives hidden in urea bags were seized from a car heading towards Tonk. The sedan was impounded and the two accused, identified as Surendra Patwa (48) and Surendra Mochi (33), were arrested. Both men are residents of Karwar in Bundi district.
DST Chief Om Prakash Chaudhary said the police were on patrol when they tried to intercept a car near Chironj village on National Highway-52 on suspicion. “The team followed the car when it did not stop. The accused got off the highway and started towards Chironj. We surrounded the car near the village and stopped,” he said.
“The defendant was nervous”
Mr. Chaudhary said both persons became nervous during questioning and tried to run away. During a search of the car, four bags of urea containing explosives, cartridges and a safety fuse wire about 1,100 meters long were found.
Although the accused told the DST personnel that they were transporting fertilizer for agricultural purposes in bags, the recovery of cartridges and detonating wire indicated that the consignment was meant for illegal activity. An investigation was underway to establish the source, destination, intended use and possible links of the seized explosive material.
Although primarily used in quarrying, ammonium nitrate is a highly sensitive chemical that can cause massive destruction. Ammonium nitrate fuel oil was reportedly used in a devastating car explosion near Red Fort in Delhi on November 10 that killed 15 people and injured more than 20 others.
Published – 31 Dec 2025 21:25 IST
