India Tightening Scrap Import Inspections

Influx of ordnance into country causing significant concern for Indian government.

The Indian Defense Minister said that the country’s customs authorities and other agencies are asked to inspect scrap imports more carefully. The decision followed a blast at a factory in the country that killed 10 people.

 

"They have to take care of it that what type of materials are coming as imported scrap. It is very difficult for the security or investigating agency to look into it. Of course the port where it is landing there should be some sort of checking but we have alerted security forces to take care of it. But those who import it should take care," said Pranab Mukherjee, India’s defense minister.

 

The cause of the explosion was various rockets, bombs and other weapons that were shipped from an Iranian port.

 

According to press reports the consignment was imported from an Iranian port and the ship berthed in Gujarat coast before being transported overland to New Delhi.