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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Monday told the state assembly that no RDX was involved in Saturday's jeep explosion at Sendur village in Villupram district, in which 14 people were killed and 25 others injured.
Replying to a special call attention motion, raised by leaders of political parties, including the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Congress, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India-Marxist, the chief minister said there was no evidence to say that the jeep had carried RDX, as alleged both inside and outside the House.
The jeep carried 200 kg of 'slurry explosives,' 150 electric detonators and 375 metres of safety fuse, he said.
These materials, bought from a licensed godown owned by one Sekar at Pathirapuliyur village near Mayilam in Villupuram district, were being taken to SPL Infrastructure Private Limited, a sub contractor, involved in national highway widening works at Vilangapadi village, when the mishap occured, he said.
Forty eight-year-old Sekar, who owned the licensed explosives godown for several years, procured the explosives from Sivasakthi Explosives in Salem. He had been supplying explosives to several stone quarries in and around Tindivanam district, he said.