In a major security lapse, a truck seized by the Perumbavoor police for carrying ammonium nitrate went missing from the police custody last week.
Sources with the Intelligence wing said the truck was seized by the police with 1,200 kg ammonium nitrate.
However, the chemical seized by the police is safe in their custody.
“Due to the lack of space, the truck was parked in another plot which is one km away from the Perumbavoor police station. Several other trucks seized by the police were also parked on the plot. We suspect the involvement of some police official sin the matter. An internal inquiry in this regard is on,” Intelligence officials said.
Meanwhile, the disappearance of the truck is likely to weaken the case. It was on December 26, 2012, that the police seized the truck carrying the chemical from Salem. The police had arrested the driver and cleaner of the truck.
The Intelligence wing had launched a probe into whether the chemical was brought in by any terror group. According to the lorry driver, he had been instructed to leave the vehicle on the road side at Muvattupuzha.
“A case has been registered. We hope to trace the vehicle soon,” said K Harikrishnan, DySP, Perumbavoor.