Fri Mar 21 19:47:10 UTC 2025: ## Kochi Sub-Inspector’s Cooking Mishap Causes Ammunition Explosion
**KOCHI, March 22, 2025** – A Kochi City police sub-inspector faces a departmental inquiry after attempting to dry blank bullets in a frying pan, resulting in an explosion at the Ernakulam Armed Reserve (AR) camp on March 10th.
The officer, in a rush to prepare ammunition for a police funeral ceremony, reportedly bypassed the standard sun-drying method. Instead, he took the blank bullets—containing gunpowder and a primer but lacking a projectile—to the camp kitchen and attempted to heat them in a pan. The gunpowder ignited, causing a loud explosion. Fortunately, the fire remained contained and did not reach nearby LPG cylinders.
A report by the AR camp Commandant cited a “lapse in judgment” by the officer, leading to the launch of the departmental inquiry. The incident highlights the dangers of improper handling of ammunition, even blank rounds.
First Piper 