IF SADDAM HUSSEIN had a ‘Chemical Ali’, the most-dreaded ULFA has silently groomed its own Chemical Borah, Hajarika or Neog.  Security forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Assam have recently gathered enough evidence to conclude that ULFA is using or about to use chemical substances; the forces recovered some chemical substances in two operations at Guwahati and Sivsagar a few days back.

These recoveries reveal that ULFA had procured tri nitro toluene, nitro glycerine, mercury, nitric acid and some other chemical substances to turn conventional bombs more devastating.  “We have recovered two bottles of liquid - each suspected to contain mercury and acid from a hide-out at Abhaypur Reserve forest near Singlopathar in Sonari Subdivision, on the 14th of August. We have sent it to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Kahilipara, for confirmation,” said Sivsagar Police Superintendent, Shyamal Prasad Saikia.

Only a fortnight ago, police recovered two bottles of nitro glycerine from Guwahati. “The bottles carried a label with “Nitro Glycerin” printed on it.  We sent the samples to FSL, Kahilipara and are awaiting reports,” informed Additional Superintendent of Police of Guwahati City Police, Rajen Singh.

“Mercury is not an explosive. So it is difficult to ascertain its use. But forensic scientists unofficially informed us that it can be used as a splinter in bombs as it is a heavy toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures. Then it will be more fatal and (it will become) difficult for medical surgeons to operate and remove splinters (Mercury) from one’s body. Any one hit by mercury splinter is (sure) to die immediately after it mixes with blood cells. We don’t know whether there is any other use,” a senior police officer said on condition of anonymity.

Nitric acid is an explosive material and becomes more devastating when it comes into contact with water. So, if a bomb containing nitric acid explodes leading to fire, pouring water over it will amount to pouring high-octane petrol over it, in-formed a researcher.

Nitro-glycerine is a heavy, yellow, poisonous, oily, explosive,  liquid obtained by nitrating glycerol; used in making explosives and medically as a vasodilator, it is also known as Nitrospan or Nitrostat.   TNT is also a similar type of chemical ex-plosive consisting of a yellow crystalline compound that is a flammable toxic derivative of toluene. Earlier ULFA used RDX and other explosive materials to trigger blasts. Recently they procured light sensor devices to trigger blasts. A light sensor device explodes whenever light falls on it. Usually they place such bombs in a dark container or wrap them tight in light paper or plastic sheets. Whenever someone opens a container or tears off the wrapper, it explodes immediately. They also have the most sophisticated Programmed Timer Device (PTD) fitted with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in their armoury to create devastation in a big way. Coupled with chemical power, ULFA’s new munitions dump is becoming more lethal and security forces are naturally very worried about these possessions.