In a major security operation ahead of January 26, Rajasthan Police seized a massive cache of explosives from a farm in Nagaur district, averting what could have posed a serious threat to public safety. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, police conducted a late-night raid on Saturday in the Thanwla police station area of Harsaur village. During the operation, officers recovered 9,550 kilograms of ammonium nitrate stored inside an agricultural field, packed in 187 sacks.
The scale of the recovery immediately raised alarm within security circles, particularly as ammonium nitrate was used in the deadly bomb blast near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10, 2025, an incident that claimed 15 lives and shook the national capital.
Nagaur Superintendent of Police Mridul Kachhawa confirmed that Suleman Khan, aged 50 and a resident of Harsaur village, was arrested from the spot. Police records reveal that the accused already has three criminal cases registered against him, pointing to a troubling history.
According to SP Kachhawa, preliminary questioning suggests that Suleman Khan was illegally storing and selling explosive material, primarily supplying it to individuals involved in both legal and illegal mining activities. Following the recovery, police registered a case under relevant sections of the Explosives Act, and the accused remains in custody for sustained interrogation.
Detonators and Fuse Wires Point to Preparedness
The seriousness of the seizure deepened further as police also recovered a large quantity of detonators and fuse wires from the site. Along with ammonium nitrate, officers found nine cartons of detonators, twelve cartons and fifteen bundles of blue fuse wire, and twelve cartons along with five bundles of red fuse wire.
Security officials said the presence of these accessories indicates that the explosive material was not merely stockpiled but potentially ready for use, raising pressing questions about the intended targets and end users of the consignment.
Given the sheer volume of explosives recovered and the broader national security implications, Rajasthan Police have informed central investigating agencies. These agencies are expected to question the accused independently and examine whether the case has links to organised criminal networks, terror financing, or cross-border supply chains.
Officials have not ruled out the possibility of wider linkages, especially in light of similar ammonium nitrate recoveries in recent months connected to terror modules operating across multiple states.
Delhi Red Fort Blast Brings Added Gravity
The Nagaur seizure has taken on added significance as ammonium nitrate was used in the November 10, 2025 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, one of the country’s most sensitive and high-security zones. Just a day before that explosion, on November 9, security agencies had recovered nearly 3,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate during raids linked to a terror module.
The Red Fort blast resulted in the deaths of 15 people, underlining the devastating consequences of ammonium nitrate when diverted from legitimate use to violent purposes.
This seizure is part of a worrying pattern seen in other parts of the country. On November 9, Jammu and Kashmir Police, while conducting operations in Haryana’s Faridabad district, raided the residence of Dr. Mujjamil Shakeel, a Pulwama resident, in Dhauj village. During the raid, police recovered 360 kilograms of explosives along with an assault rifle.
Further searches in Fatehpur Taga village, located barely four kilometres away, led to the recovery of 2,563 kilograms of suspected ammonium nitrate from a Maulana’s residence. In the same area, authorities also seized 2,558 kilograms of urea, a substance commonly used in the preparation of improvised explosive devices.
Why Ammonium Nitrate is so dangerous
Ammonium nitrate, chemically known as NH₄NO₃, is an odourless, white granular substance widely used as a fertiliser and in industrial applications. However, when mixed with fuel such as diesel, it forms ANFO, a highly powerful explosive compound.
First synthesised by German chemist Johann Rudolf Glauber in the 17th century, ammonium nitrate entered large-scale industrial use in the 20th century. While legal and essential for agriculture, its easy availability and explosive potential have made it a favoured material for terror attacks worldwide.
Many warn that ammonium nitrate-based explosions are capable of causing massive destruction. Such blasts can reach speeds of up to 14,000 kilometres per hour, with shockwaves travelling nearly five times faster than sound waves. The impact can cause immediate damage to lungs and ears, while flying debris like glass, metal, and bricks can inflict fatal injuries.
A single kilogram of ANFO is considered equivalent to 0.8 kilograms of TNT, capable of creating a crater five to seven metres wide. Even 150 kilograms of ammonium nitrate can affect areas up to one kilometre away, while explosions involving 3,000 kilograms can flatten entire neighbourhoods.
The catastrophic potential of ammonium nitrate was starkly demonstrated in 1995 during the Oklahoma City bombing in the United States. Approximately 1,800 kilograms of ANFO were used in the attack, killing 168 people and injuring hundreds. The explosion destroyed a large federal building and caused damage across several hundred metres.
Security experts caution that quantities like those seized in Nagaur could cause devastation on a similar or even greater scale if detonated in a populated area.
With Republic Day celebrations approaching, the recovery has prompted heightened alertness across Rajasthan and neighbouring states. Security agencies are now focused on tracing the supply chain, identifying buyers, and determining whether the explosives were intended for illegal mining, organised crime, or more sinister activities.
Investigations remain ongoing, and officials have indicated that further arrests and revelations are likely as the probe deepens.
