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Possession of RDX punishable by death

As part of its continuing tough drive against terrorism, the government on Tuesday made possession of lethal explosives like RDX, PETN, HMX punishable by death with the Rajya Sabha passing by voice vote the Explosive Amendment Bill, 1999.

The Bill categorises high explosives like Research Development Explosive (RDX), Penta Erythritol Tetra Nitrate (PETN), High Melting Explosive (HMX), Tri Nitrate Toluene (TNT), Low Temperature Plastic Explosives (LTPE) as special grade explosives, possession of which has been made punishable by death or life imprisonment.

Also brought under the purview of stringent law, for the first time, are other devastating explosives like Composition Exploding (CE), Plastic Explosive Kirkee (PEK), OCTOL, a mixture of high melting explosive and TNT and compounds of RDX and TNT.

Piloting the Bill, Minister of State for Home Vidyasagar Rao said though RDX, PETN and HMX had been found to be used extensively by militants in Jammu and Kashmir, northeast and Naxalite-infested areas, other high grade, though little known, explosives were being banned to make their use unlawful by imposing stringent penalty.

To strong concerns voiced by members on misuse of anthrax spores, the minister said though it was not an explosive, the government was prepared to consider bringing forth a law to ban it in the wake of its recent widespread misuse in United States by suspected terrorists.

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