The seizure of a large quantity of ammonium nitrate, in powdered form and tiny chunks, and coils of wire from a godown inside a sago factory at Sivadapuram here on Tuesday has baffled investigating agencies.
What worried them was the presence of the wire since the chemical could be used as an ingredient in both fertilizers and explosives.
Revenue Divisional Officer M. G. Kulandaivelu, who inspected the seized goods, said: “Those who possess these goods are up to something, which needs to be deeply probed. The presence of wire and nitrate in chunk forms perplexes us.”
Based on information provided by their Kerala counterparts that large quantities of explosive materials were being smuggled into Kerala from Salem, the police raided the godown and found 115 bags of ammonium nitrate and 6000 metres of safe-fuse wire, which can be used in detonators.
A woman labourer at the site confirmed that the materials from the godown were transported to Kerala regularly.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that the godown was leased out to Suruli Raj of Harur, who is absconding. Intelligence sources said that the police had recently arrested Suruli's brother in connection with the seizure of explosive materials at Karipatti near Salem.
The goods in the godown carried no valid documents.
