Question : WIDE SPREAD PILFERAGE OF EXPLOSIVES

(a) whether wide spread theft of explosives have been reported recently;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is contemplating to amend the Explosive Act, 1983 in the light of large scale theft of explosives in the country and also to bring it in line of international /UN standards;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether a large quantity of RDX have been smuggled to the country as revealed through interrogation of the terrorists recently; and

(f) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)

(a) & (b): The cases related to theft of explosives are investigated by the concerned State Police. As per available information, there have been 2 cases of looting of explosives by suspected naxalites in Chhattisgarh in 2006 and 1 case of looting of explosives by suspected naxalites in Jharkhand in 2007.

(c) & (d): The Draft Explosives Rules, 2006 to replace the Explosives Rules, 1983 have been notified. The new Rules, inter-alia, cover stringent monitoring mechanisms to cover manufacture, transport and use of explosives to prevent any pilferage of explosives.

(e) & (f): There have been some cases of seizure of RDX reported in J&K, Punjab and some other parts of the country. The Central and State security and intelligence agencies remain alert and vigilant to foil such anti-national activities.