Samples from arms dump to be sent for forensic tests

After inspecting the site, the officials, including Sheik Hussain and Prashant Yadav, lifted samples of TNT slabs, landmines and rocket launcher fuse. The samples would be sent to the Forensic Science lab in Chennai and a report would be forwarded to the Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Rameswaram for further action. 

During inspection at the site, which is just about 30 metres from a housing area, the police personnel were advised not to keep the explosives in the open and they were asked to keep them in a godown nearby. It would be unsafe if such explosives were kept underneath coconut trees, they said. 

The use of cellphones near the site should be restricted and the explosives should not be exposed to light, they added. Since the explosives just remain covered at the site, some fishermen had raised apprehension over it. Sources in the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad ruled out any possibility of explosion since the substances unearthed were wet. 

Already, chemical substances in the explosive materials have been separated to avoid detonation. But to be safe, the explosives could have been kept in a godown in Sivaganga, sources said. 

Referring to the unearthed explosives that were segregated with lot numbers dating back to 1970, 1973 and 1975, sources said such ones were meant for the Army. But, only based on a court order and after testing their efficiency, such explosives could either be burnt or destroyed. 

Around 200 TNT slabs, which are highly explosive and each weighing about 450 grams, safety fuse of 50 metres, 25 rocket launcher fuses, 98 single cartridge ammunition, one megger, which is illegally used for firing dynamo, coil wire of 500 metres and a primer were recovered from the site.