The Hindu
22 February 2007
Nanded blast "a possible explosive accident"
Staff Reporter
Inquiry calls for stringent action
MUMBAI: The explosion that killed two persons and damaged a biscuit factory unit in Nanded on February 10 was not a fire accident but a possible explosive accident, says preliminary findings of Concerned Citizen Inquiry, conducted by Teesta Setalvad, Justice B.G. Kolse-Patil and Arvind Deshmukh. The final report will be out in a month, which will include details on the Malegaon blasts, the recovery of RDX and several other recent events.
On February 10, 2007, at about 12.15 a.m., 28-year-old Pandurang Ameelkanthwar died on the spot as the biscuit boxes he was carrying exploded. His cousin, Dnaneshwar Manikwar, who sustained 72 per cent burns, died on February 16 at the JJ Hospital in Mumbai.
Teesta Setalvad, socio-legal activist, wondered why the police hastened to declare it a fire accident before getting the forensic result.
She said there were two versions from Dnaneshwar, one saying it was a short circuit and another saying he did it to claim insurance. Justice B.G. Kolse-Patil said they went to the site with a forensic expert, who did not want to disclose his identity, took pictures, and interviewed people around the area. They also spoke to the owner, the civil surgeon, fire brigade officials, SP Fatehsingh Patil and other police officials.
The expert opinion was that the shutter that took the impact of the explosion would not have been thrown to a distance of 40 feet had it been a normal fire. He also hinted at low intensity volatile explosives.
The inquiry recommends: "The Central Government should keep a close watch and monitor the increasing low intensity terror generating activities being conducted by political outfits that are misusing Hindu religion."
It also recommends "stringent action so that the accused in the earlier Nanded blasts — including those never arrested despite evidence — are arrested or not released on bail, as the case may be. Proceedings of these investigations must be conducted in full public glare."
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