3 min readAhmedabadJun 3, 2015 05:54 PM IST
First published on: Jun 3, 2015 at 05:54 PM IST
Forty-nine crude bombs have been recovered from a person in the industrially dominated Narol area of Ahmedabad on Wednesday. The crude bombs were reportedly brought from Uttar Pradesh to allegedly attack the Rath Yatra and other important events coming up in Gujarat.
The crime branch nabbed Mohd Irfan alias Bala Shahfakir (20), a resident of Rahimnagar in Narol. The police had received a lead that two persons, who are allegedly into crude bomb making, are camping in Narol area of the city.
The main accused has been identified as Altaf alias Sameer, a native of Uttar Pradesh who was allegedly using Irfan from Ahmedabad as a carrier to receive bombs.
The accused Irfan during his primary interrogation told police that he was asked to keep the crude bombs at his home. He claimed he has no role in bomb making.
The seizure of the crude bombs ahead of the Jagannath Rath Yatra is being viewed as a major security threat in Ahmedabad by police officers. The Jal Yatra of Lord Jagannath was started on Tuesday, marking the start of the annual Rath Yatra which is scheduled to take place on July 18 this year.
DCP (Crime) Deepan Bhadran said, “Altaf makes crude bombs and he was using Irfan for local support and receiving bombs. Irfan works in a private firm in Ahmedabad and had come in touch with Altaf a few months back. The bombs were brought from UP. The Rath Yatra was their main target and they were in the process of assembling more crude bombs before the festival”.
The crime branch had found the bombs sealed in a cloth bag that the accused were carrying with them. The duo were standing near the crowded Bombay Hotel area at Narol. When the accused saw the police approaching close, they tried to flee. However, Irfan was caught with the bag of bombs.
The crime branch officials stated that one crude bomb was sold for Rs. 300 from UP. The bomb disposal squad officials who checked the crude bombs stated that the bombs are made of nails, bolts and flash powder. The bombs were disassembled by the squad and the samples sent to the forensic laboratory for a detailed report.
The crime branch officials added that the duo are suspected to be working for a gang or a group associated with terror and anti-social activities who wanted to cause large-scale damage in the city.
The accused has been arrested under Section 4 (A) (B) of the Explosives Substances Act.
State Home Minister Rajnikant Patel expressed concern over the seizure of crude bombs and said, “We have asked Gujarat Police to beef up security across the State specially in Ahmedabad ahead of Rath Yatra to ensure total security”.
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