THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Crime Branch authorities probing the blasts of gelatine (nitroglycerine explosives) sticks at the KSRTC bus stand and other places in Kozhikode early last year have recommended suspension or cancellation of the nearly 52 gelatine licences across the State.

Crime Branch Superintendent of Police T.P. Mohandas told The Hindu here on Monday that he had already sent the necessary reports and recommendations to the Joint Controller of Explosives of the Petroleum and Explosives Service Organisation (PESO) in Chennai in this regard.

"I have also sent copies to the Peso authorities in Kochi. I will soon be sending a reminder to them to expedite action in this regard." He said investigations revealed that none of these licence holders were keeping proper records of the purchase, sale, use and storage of gelatine sticks and thus violated the provisions of the Explosives Act. There was a strong possibility of diversion of gelatine sticks for anti-social activities.

"That is why we have recommended the suspension or cancellation of those licences," he said.

No mechanism

According to experts, it will be for the first time in the State that such a large number of gelatine licences are being cancelled at one stretch. Even though it is well known that huge quantities of gelatine sticks and other forms of explosives are flowing into the State, there is no mechanism in place to effectively monitor the movement. The licence-holders hail from various places in the State and a substantial number are engaged in quarry blast operations.

Based on the Crime Branch reports, the PESO authorities will have to issue show cause notices to the gelatine stick licence holders and give them 21 days to clarify their stand on the charges levelled against them.

The suspension or cancellation of licences can be effected only after scrutinising their clarifications.

Probe intensified

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch has intensified the investigation into the seizure of huge quantity of gelatine sticks and detonators from a vehicle which met with an accident at Ollur near Thrissur on April 20 last year.

"We are waiting for some legal clarifications from the PESO authorities to proceed effectively against the accused in this case," Crime Branch Dy.SP Sankaranarayanan, who is leading the investigation, said.

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