The Allahabad police have recovered 50 kg ammonium nitrate and 1,000 metre magnetic fuse wire brought in from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, close on the heels of the Gorakhpur serial blasts and the seizure of explosives from two railway stations in the state.
The explosives were seized on Thursday night in Shankergarh area from a jeep coming from the neighbouring state, even as the driver of the vehicle, identified as Rajesh Patel, fled the spot, a senior police official said on Friday.
Superintendent of Police (Trans-Yamuna) Deepak Bhatt, however, said that prima facie the explosives were meant to be sold to those involved in stone chips trade in the area as ammonium nitrate is widely used to blow up rocks.
He said that no chances were being taken in the backdrop of recent serial blasts. Police were also investigating whether the explosives were meant for Naxalites.
A case has been registered against Patel under Explosives Act and a police team has been sent to Madhya Pradesh to nab him, he added.
Hours after blasts rocked the temple-town of Gorakhpur on Tuesday, the police recovered about ten kilograms of explosives and 20 litres of ammonium nitrate from a waiting room of the Faizabad railway station.
A "very powerful factory-made" bomb was also recovered from Farukhabad railway station on Wednesday night.