Bomb squad suspects highly explosive TNT on Cachar - Mizoram border; Another team of experts to visit tomorrow

The mysterious turn of affairs continues on Assam – Mizoram border. November 6, 2021, Barak Bulletin broke the news that Cachar Police spotted a suspected bomb on Assam – Mizoram border in the Khulicherra area. The spot is under the jurisdiction of the Cachar District Administration and Government of Assam. Cachar Police took control of the area and sealed its restricting entry and exit. Soon a bomb-squad team was called from Masimpur Police camp and the suspected bomb was escorted and kept in a 5-feet well. 

Superintendent of Police, Ramandeep Kaur is out of station, and in her absence, Additional Superintendent of Police, Subrata Kumar Sen is in charge of the investigation. Dholai OC Sahab Uddin is also on the spot. It was decided that today, an advanced team of bomb squad will travel to Silchar from Nagaon and identify the nature of the suspected explosive. The team went to the spot today afternoon, but after initial supervision, they requested the opinion of a more advanced team.

However, officers in Cachar Police confirmed that the squad suspects it to be a TNT Bomb. “Another team of experts will visit tomorrow and identify the nature of the explosive. It is not confirmed yet if it is a TNT Bomb or some other material,” stated a senior officer in Cachar Police.

TNT also known as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene is one of the common chemical explosives. US EPA defines TNT as one of the most widely used military high explosives, partly because of its insensitivity to shock and friction. It has been used extensively in the manufacture of explosives since the beginning of the 20th century and is used in military cartridge casings, bombs and grenades (ATSDR 1995; Cal/EPA 2008). In India, terrorists, Naxals and insurgents have reportedly used TNT to cause damage to property and human lives.

Yesterday, Cachar Police also recovered electric wires which could be used as connectors to heat up the TNT for it to explode. While this is a highly sensitive matter, it is astonishing that the senior formation of the state Police is yet to make an official statement. In fact, different police officers are peddling different theories and the Press has not been formally briefed even once since the news first broke.

A section in the Police department and joking about it stating that it was nothing but a prank. This prank theory raises many questions. Was it actually a prank and if so, why did bomb squad team one ask for team two and now team two is asking for team three. It has been officially confirmed by Cachar Police that a team three is on its way to Silchar. Also, is the prank theory an attempt to orchestrate a coverup?

Whatever it is, speculations around a bomb in itself is dangerous, and therefore, as the Police ably investigates the case, it is in the best interest of the general public that an officer with responsibility briefs the media about the turn of affairs.