|
10 days on, divers spy containers of missing explosives
Navy divers searching for the 100 tonnes of Afghanistan-bound industrial explosives that were allegedly lost at sea when MV Eugenia was caught in bad weather on December 22 have confirmed that they have located three of the six missing containers on the ocean bed. The containers are in the process of being extricated from the sea, senior Home Ministry officials said.Sources said that the containers were located with the help of sonar after which Navy divers were sent down to confirm their presence. The containers are within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone but a few nautical miles away from the spot identified by Khakin Sergey, the captain of Eugenia. Last Friday, the Union Home Ministryâwhich is supervising the investigationsâwas forced to widen the probe after Navy divers failed to find the containers. ââThe containers will be extricated from the ocean bed after which the contents will be verified,ââ senior ministry officials said. Till this exercise is complete and the other three containers traced as well the investigation will continue. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police and Customs officials have examined senior officials of M/s Premier Explosives in secundrabad that had despatched the explosives, meant for the 215 Km Zaranj-Delaram road in Afghanistan being built by the Border Roads Organisation. Officials said the company has maintained that all formalities had been followed and that it had supplied explosives to BRO earlier as well. Posted by: john 2006-01-03 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=138909 |