Drones carrying RDX and other explosives that came from Pakistan are suspected to be the reason for the recent surge of violent attacks in Punjab, news agency PTI reported quoting its sources. In the past two years, the drones from Pakistan have dropped over 2kg RDX, six tiffin boxes fitted with improvised explosive devices, and seven detonators. The National Security Guard and the National Investigation Agency are currently investigating the nature of the Ludhiana court blast. The forensic team and the Bomb Detection & Disposal Squad have revealed that high-grade explosives had been used in the court blast that took place on Thursday, as per media reports. It was also said that high-grade explosives are usually PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) or RDX (Royal Demolition eXplosive).
Key Points:
1. "Drones are one of the fastest-growing threats, posing serious security concerns in Punjab. In the past two years, more than 10 drones have been brought down by Punjab Police, which led to the seizure of huge quantities of weapons, hand grenades, and high-grade IEDs and explosives," said a counter-terror expert from the Punjab Police.
2. The Punjab Police and forces guarding the borders have sighted around 37 drones this year, all within a range of 2-10 km on the international border. The drones sighted in 2020 were 49 and in 2019 were 35.
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3. Based on the preliminary reports, the person killed in the blast is suspected of carrying the explosives. The forensic experts from the National Security Guard and the National Investigation Agency are currently trying to find the nature of the court blast.
4. The role of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) is also under the scanner, the Union home ministry officials told PTI. The SFJ was banned under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act as it was trying to radicalise the youth to enlist the support of gangsters and radicals in Punjab, the officials said.
5 "The gangsters are involved in smuggling arms and operating with drug cartels. The seizures made by BSF and Punjab Police clearly indicate terrorists-gangsters-smugglers nexus," the home ministry claimed.
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