Sleuths confused over chemicals used

LUCKNOW: Was it a chemical other than ammonium nitrate or potassium, used in the blast? Investigation agencies probing into the blast, for the first time in the history of the terrorist attacks in Uttar Pradesh, have not been able to find any device, wire circuit or even unexploded materials from the site of Sheetla Ghat blast in Varanasi as of now.
Anti-Terror Squad sleuths also confirmed that no shrapnels were used in the making of the bomb.
The ATS sleuths also have reached to the conclusion as per primary investigation that explosives were neither ammonium nitrate or potassium as primary component. Reason: Use of ammonium nitrate in the explosives could be made out from the initial tests, which have not confirmed its use so far. Similarly, use of potassium in bomb explosion could leave a pungent smell in the atmosphere for a long time after a blast takes place.
A five-member National Investigating Agency team which reached Varanasi also confirmed that other than ammonium nitrate, several other chemicals were also used.
ATS sleuths, on the other hand, confirmed that the explosion was of medium intensity. Reason: The impact of the blast was such that either the exploded and unexploded material used in the bomb has either fallen in river Ganga or has been buried under rubble post-explosion.
Besides, the sound of the bomb was heard as far as a kilometre which make it a medium intensity bomb and not a low intensity one. The ATS sleuths also confirmed that cracks in window panes were spotted as far as 500 metres away from the site.
On the terror outfit behind blast, ATS sources said that the e-mail, its timing, content and its style matched that of Indian Mujahideen. However, the use of chemical in explosives does not actually match the modus operandi of IM, sources also added.