Maharashtra: ‘Explosive’ seized from railway station were bicat strips used for decoy fire

NAGPUR: The material seized at Nagpur railway station in May first week, which was suspected to be gelatin sticks, has turned out to be bicat strips. These are a kind of ammunition that is used as decoy during combat and ambushes.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) had seized a bag of material, which was earlier believed to be gelatin or other major explosive. The incident had led to a furore, raising security concerns. However, inspection by experts revealed though it was not gelatine sticks, it was not commercial explosive either. Rather these were pieces of bicat strips, which were traced back to an institution that trains combat troops.
Bicat strips cannot lead any injury but sound similar to rifle fire when lit. During combat situations or ambushes, this helps create the impression to the enemy that troops are firing from the direction of the sound but they may actually be elsewhere, said a source, who has been manufacturing the items in a government agency.
The detonation is timed in such a manner that it appears that a rifle is being fired, said a source. It takes exactly the same time that is taken to fire two rounds from a rifle. Ordnance factories too have been manufacturing the strips in India.
In other words, these strips are mere crackers that sound exactly like rifle fire. However, it is used for military purposes, and the strips are also costly, the source said. They raised concern over the material being found outside the custody of armed forces, in civilian premises.
The defence PRO’s office had denied that the seized material was being brought from the army’s Central Ammunition Depot (CAD) at Pulgaon. The depot is a storage for ammunition of various types.