How attempt to bomb Pune activist working for Kashmiri students failed; he says ‘may happen again’

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau, Military Intelligence and Pune city police too started looking into the matter.

Revelations in the probe sent shock waves in Pune as the parcel was addressed to a well known Pune based social activist Sanjay Nahar of “Sarhad”, an organization that particularly works for the students of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pune-based social activist Sanjay Nahar. (Express)

Nearly six years ago, on March 20, 2018, somebody left a parcel, which was packed like a gift box, at the office of Shri Maruti Courier Service in Maliwada area in Ahmednagar city of Maharashtra.

Sandeep Bhujbal, an employee of the courier firm, heard some buzzing from the box. He opened the box and found a radio-like device inside it. As soon as he plugged the device, there was an explosion. Bhujbal and his colleague Sanjay Kshirsagar suffered serious injuries in the incident. Both were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

A team of Ahmednagar police reached the spot for investigation. An FIR was lodged at the Kotwali police station, Ahmednagar, under sections 307, 308, 337, 338, 440, 427 of the IPC and relevant sections of the Indian Explosive Substances Act.
Revelations in the probe sent shockwaves in Pune as the parcel was addressed to a well-known Pune-based social activist Sanjay Nahar of

‘Sarhad’, an organization that particularly works for the students of Jammu and Kashmir. Soon, the police contacted Nahar. Police said inside the box that exploded, there was a letter addressed to Nahar purportedly written by a woman. According to the police, the letter was written in Hindi in which the sender said she was a student of Sarhad College (run by Nahar’s organization) and was then working in Ahmednagar.

The letter further stated that she had recorded a message for Nahar in her own voice, to thank him for all his efforts. The sender said the device inside the package would have to be plugged in to charge it, as it didn’t have enough battery.

Meanwhile, police said when the device was plugged in by the courier firm staff out of “curiosity”, it exploded on the spot. So the police suspected that the parcel was aimed at bombing Nahar.

Suspecting terror links in the case, its investigation was transferred to the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS). The National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau, Military Intelligence and Pune city police too started looking into the matter.

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Police released the sketch of the suspect who delivered the parcel at the courier office. But attempts to identify and nab the suspect failed. Police verified the name and number of the sender mentioned on the parcel, which turned out to be fake. Following the explosion, the police recovered an iron pipe with white powder along with an extension board made of fiber and some parts of a switch circuit and wires from the spot. It was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Kalina, Mumbai, for investigation.

The FSL report confirmed that white powder inside the parcel bomb was ammonium nitrate, which is commonly used to make Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Police studied the design of the explosive used in the case.

When contacted, Nahar said, “I still remember. I got a call from police inspector Abhay Parmar from Ahmednagar about the explosion of a parcel addressed to me. Subsequently, officials from different agencies looking into this case contacted me.”
“I believe it was terror act carried out in a well-planned manner. The suspects were not visible in any CCTV footage. It shows they were not only having knowledge of assembling a bomb, but also took proper precautions before delivering it in a parcel box at the courier office,” said Nahar.

“I had shared certain information with cops for investigation. I had communicated with the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. I was told that a thorough probe was on. Several phone calls and other details were being investigated. But it is unfortunate that even after six years, police failed to arrest the culprits and the mystery behind the parcel bomb still remains unsolved.”
Sources in the police said different possibilities such as involvement of any right-wing extremist groups and outfits from Kashmir were probed, but the case could not be cracked.

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“I have been working for students of Kashmir and on issues from the North East. After the parcel bomb incident, I was given a police guard for the last six years. Just recently, my police protection has been withdrawn. Those who wanted to bomb me failed at that time. But they are still free and may try it again. There could be a larger terror conspiracy. The masterminds should be arrested,” Nahar said.

Chandan Haygunde

Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”. He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation. Key Beats: His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Background: Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape. Awards and Recognition: He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve. He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry. 1. High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases “Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025). Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links. “The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025) Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas. “How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025) After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital. “A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025). Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train. “No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025) Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence. 2. Inter-state firearms racket "Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025) "Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025) Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh 3. Cybercrime & Financial Scams “Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025) An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country ‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025) Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds Signature Style: The Investigative Hit Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies. His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses. He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers. X (Twitter): @chandan_pune ... Read More

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