2.5 kg crude bomb found in abandoned well

The police commissioner confirmed that the preliminary investigations have revealed that the bomb was meant for a church in city’s Datta Peth area. However, the suspect “hid” it in the well out of fear, when he heard of his brother-in-law getting killed in one of the blasts reported from neighbouring Karnataka, early this month.

According to Paradhi, Karnataka police had arrested some suspects including a chilli vendor hailing from Solapur, in connection with the recent blasts. During the interrogation, it was revealed that a similar package of explosives was despatched to Solapur.

It was a six-day operation which began on Monday, the commissioner said. When fished out the explosives were found wrapped in a plastic bag and detonators had been removed. According to Paradhi, the explosives lay in the well for three weeks. The box containing explosives was stuffed with iron pellets, he added.

It may be recalled here that blasts were reported from St Peter and St Paul Church in Bangalore on July 9 morning. A similar explosion was also reported at the premises of St John’s Lutheran Church in Hubli causing extensive damage to the church building.

Forensic experts have confirmed that the explosives used in explosions in churches in Bangalore and Hubli in Karnataka and Wadi and in Andhra Pradesh and Goa in recent weeks were similar in nature.