In the detonator blast case on the railway track in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, authorities have arrested a suspect identified as Sabir, an employee of the railways. Sabir is alleged to have planted ten detonators along the railway track. Investigators are currently assessing whether this incident was an act of mischief or part of a larger conspiracy. The case is under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Railway Protection Force (RPF), and the Ministry of Railways.
The incident occurred in Sagfata, within the Nepanagar Assembly constituency of Burhanpur. On September 18, as an Army Special Train travelling from Jammu and Kashmir to Karnataka passed over the track, an explosion took place. Fortunately, the loco pilot promptly stopped the train and notified the station master, effectively preventing a major disaster. Authorities discovered that a total of ten detonators had been placed on the railway track on that date in connection with this act.
Following the incident, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), National Investigation Agency (NIA), and other agencies, including railway and local police, have launched a thorough investigation. Due to the involvement of the army, the inquiry is being conducted with the highest level of secrecy. The Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railways has made a noteworthy statement, indicating that the detonators discovered on the track are part of the railway’s standard operating procedures.
Dr. Swapnil Neela, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railways, clarified that the detonators recovered were used by the railway for operational purposes. However, he noted that there was no legitimate reason for placing them at the specific location where they were found. Typically, detonators are employed to produce loud sounds, especially in foggy conditions or when a train needs to be halted before its scheduled stop. In such situations, three detonators are usually positioned in stages approximately 1,200 meters ahead of the intended stopping point.
These detonators are accessible to various railway personnel, including station masters, loco pilots, keymen, and track safety officers. Designed to create a loud noise without causing any damage to the train or tracks, the detonators simply explode as the engine passes over them.