Traders react cautiously to demand for chemicals

NEW DELHI: Same chemicals react differently producing diametrically opposite results depending on the end user ��� farmers use ammonium nitrate for cultivating foodgrains, terrorists use it for making bombs. And caught in the dilemma of selling these are the traders of Tilak Bazar in Khari Baoli near Chandni Chowk, especially after it was established that ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride, easily available in the market as fertilizers, were extensively used by terrorists in manufacturing bombs.
As the city slowly limps back to normal under tightened security, Times City visited the acid chemical bazaar of Delhi for a reality check and found that the market has put on a protective jacket. The chemicals have become a forbidden word there. Even if a farmer comes to buy the chemical for using it as a fertilizer, the shopkeeper first raises his eyebrows and follows it up with a negative reply. Handling one such customer, the owner of Standard chemicals in Tilak bazaar of Khari Baoli said: "Ammonium nitrate is not available, not even for extra cash." And in case one dares to ask the reason, comes a quick reply: "Don't you know it's a chemical that is commonly used in making explosives and was even used in the recent bomb blasts."
In more than 15 shops visited by Times City, ammonium nitrate was a name that only raised suspicion. Most of the shopkeepers could be found questioning potential buyers about their antecedents. Nonetheless it's still not a market without loose ends. There were shop owners who after being questioned repeatedly revealed that ammonium nitrate could be available in the market. However, they refused to share the details of the shop. A shopkeeper, preferring anonymity, said: "After the blasts, even pronouncing the name of these materials is a sin and there is no way a customer can purchase it. But the scene is not always the same, after selling it can you differentiate between a farmer and a terrorist?"
Ammonium nitrate is commonly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertilizer, but off late it has been a chemical frequently used in the explosives. Potassium chloride is another such chemical that has been used for wrong reasons. A senior police officer said: "A strict advisory has been issued to shopkeepers to maintain a record of the addresses and other details of every customers who comes to purchase ���certain' chemicals." He added: "The shopkeepers have also been told to alert the police in case they find a suspicious customer." For now the advisory certainly seems to be working.