Mumbai: 54 Detonators Found In Thane's Kalyan Railway Station, Probe On

Government Railway Police found 54 detonators on a platform at Kalyan railway station in Mumbai’s Thane district.

Kalyan railway station is situated on the outskirts of Mumbai city.

Source : Representational Image/Getty

Two boxes with a total of 54 detonators were found on a platform at Kalyan railway station in Mumbai’s Thane district on Wednesday, a report in PTI said.

The Government Railway Police (GRP) spotted the unattended boxes on platform No. 1 which is usually crowded on the Central Railway (CR) route. After which a dog squad and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) personnel were immediately called to the spot.

The boxes were taken into custody and upon opening the BDDS found as many as 54 detonators (a device containing a small amount of explosive) inside them, as per the PTI report.

The Kalyan GRP has initiated an investigation, although they have not yet registered a case related to the seizure. Senior police officials, including the Thane cops visited the spot where the detonators were found.

Detonators For Illegal Fishing

Detonators are usually utilised in Thane district for illegal fishing activities in lakes as well as for carrying out blasting operations in quarries. Detonators once lit, would be thrown in water to send shockwaves which would kill or stun the fish, which are then collected. 

Kalyan railway station is situated on the outskirts of Mumbai city, which caters to commuters of both long-distance and suburban trains. It is known for being consistently crowded due to the high volume of passengers it serves.

While speaking to The Times Of India, Manoj Patil, deputy police commissioner, railway police, Central Railways zone said that there was no security risk.

“There is no security risk or possibility of explosion as the boxes contained only detonators which are used for triggering blast in gelatin sticks and are often used at mining or trench digging sites. We are also tracking the CCTV footage to get more information,” he was quoted by TOI.

Last year, in September, Thane’s Mumbra Police recovered gelatin sticks and detonators from a couple of abandoned boats on the Diva Creek shores. The official said that 17 detonators and 16 gelatin sticks were found in the two boats and a police team which rushed there has seized the contraband items.

The matter came to light when vigilant local fishermen spotted two abandoned boats on the creek shore. Deeming the situation suspicious, they promptly alerted the police.

An official explained that these explosive materials are used for illicit sand mining, to blow up the targeted spot and then collect the sand through suction pumps, according to IANS.