Ranchi, Aug. 26: The Jharkhand police headquarters have called the “bluff” on the Friday “breakthrough” by the Ranchi police, wondering if 10 gelatin sticks could have blown up Birsa Munda Central Jail here.

Experts also questioned the veracity of the claim that Kashmiri militants had thought of effecting their “big plan” with the use of such a limited quantity of explosives.

The question is if the so-called militants wanted to blow up the high-security prison, how could Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, lodged in a small cell there, survived the attack? More so, when the militants’ plan was to get Geelani released.

Director-general of police R.R. Prasad told The Telegraph: “A vague map of the jail was recovered, along with some gelatin sticks, detonators and fuse wire from a hotel near the railway station. Though we are unable to make correct interpretations, it is far fetched to believe that there was any plan to blow up the jail and release Geelani.”

“It is not very conclusive and convincing to believe that Kashmiri militants have any role to play in this recovery. Will anyone call up the SSP and tell him that he is going to blow up the jail?” Prasad asked, wondering if Geelani would have survived if his cell was exploded.

Experts wondered if Kashmiri militants would use Gomia-made gelatin sticks to release Geelani and if they would tip-off the police of their major operation. Experts said police had failed to nab anyone after some gelatin sticks were found from a scooter’s boot parked near the jail gate in January, even in this case no one will be arrested, but the police would get the needed publicity.

“The jail authorities will now get additional security and equipment in view of the threat,” experts said.

Ironically, both the times, the SSP had received secret calls telling about the explosives. Gelatin sticks are also used by local people to hunt wild boars, experts said. Gelatin sticks are hidden under kandmuls and as soon as wild boars eat the kandmuls, the sticks explode, killing the animal, they added.

But Ranchi senior superintendent of police Neeraj Sinha said: “You cannot rule out the possibility of the nefarious design of Kashmiri militants to release Geelani. Someone called me on telephone and said 12 Kashmiri-looking people were seen moving in suspicious manner near the railway station. A call came again telling that some of them had moved to a hotel and others intended to move to Hindpiri locality. We raided the hotel and seized the explosives made in Gomia.”

The SSP said that though no one had been arrested in this connection, but efforts were on to nab the culprits.

The SSP said that the security had been beefed up as they did not want to take chances.

He said that last time 25 gelatin sticks were recovered from a scooter follwowin gign a

telephone call mentioning that a scooter and amotorcycle parked near teh

ajil gate had explosives. Though the mobike was not found, the

information abotu teh scooter was correct. The scooter owner was nabbed.

He had informed that one Aftab had taken away his scooter. Aftab is

known as a black marketeer of gelatin sticks in Khunti area. Efforts

are on to nab Aftab, police said.

“If the recovery is real and really Kashmiris were seen in the capital, the gelatin sticks must be belonging to those shawl walas who come to Ranchi from Kashmir. They

might be taking it from Jharkhand to sell in Kashmir. Gelatin sticks

are easily available here,' he said.

EoM

=============o. The deputy commissioner issues permits for

procuring gelatin sticks used for digging wells and for crushers,' the

official said.

o. The deputy commissioner issues permits for

procuring gelatin sticks used for digging wells and for crushers,' the

official said.

A senior administrative official, on conditions of anonimity, said this seemed to be a “publicity gimmick of the district police”. The official said that 10 gelatin sticks could hardly blow up even a thick wall of the old jail.