NEW DELHI, 10 October 2004 — At least 100 shells of rockets and mortars were found in a container carrying metal scrap at Tughlakabad in south Delhi yesterday. The discovery of rocket and mortar shells, including live ones, in metal scrap in Delhi and adjoining areas has put Indian officials on alert and spelt sleepless nights for residents in the vicinity. Alarmed by discovery of hazardous material in imported metal scrap, the directorate of foreign trade has issued a notification tightening its norms.
Recovered shells include unexploded ones, sources said. These were found in a container destined for Bhushan Steel Factory of Ghaziabad, where last week an explosion killed 10 people and injured eight. Suspicion of the metal scrap including explosives prompted the authorities to detain the vessels at the Tughlakabad inland container depot last week, sources said.
Police officials have not ruled out the possibility of detecting more such explosives from imported metal scrap, they said. Explosive-experts from National Security Guards and Delhi Police Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad are in the process of isolating shells for detonation, sources said.
Five mortars, including three live ones, were recovered from scrap-laden trucks destined for Bhushan Steels Factory on Friday, sources said. And 52 explosives were found in residential areas. Of these, 42 were of various types, including anti-tank missiles, and were found abandoned at four places in Ghaziabad.
