Ahmedabad: A person was arrested with 49 crude bombs during a late night combing operation on the city outskirts ahead of the Rathyatra scheduled to be held on July 18, police said today.
However, police officials said that the bombs were not meant to disrupt the Rathyatra, which passes from several sensitive areas of the city.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)-Crime Dipan Bhadran, his officials received a tip off that a person carrying live crude bombs will pass from Narol area late last night.
"Based on that tip-off, during our combing, we stopped one Mohammad Irfan Fakir, 20, during the wee hours when he was walking towards his home in Narol area. We found 49 hand made crude bombs from his bag," Bhadran told reporters here today.
After finding bombs, crime branch called Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) as well as forensic experts at the spot.
"After BDS diffused these bombs, forensic experts conducted primary investigation and found that these bombs were made of metal pieces, nails, jute strings and gun powder. We have handed over the material to the forensic experts for further probe," said Bhadran.
When asked about the origin of these bombs, Fakir told officials that he received these bombs from one Altaf, a resident of Uttar Pradesh.
"Altaf is still out of our clutches. As of now, Fakir only confessed that he was asked by Altaf to keep these bombs. We will find out more about the purpose behind making these bombs only after we nab Altaf. Our investigation revealed that these bombs were not meant to disrupt peace during Rathyatra," added Bhadran.
Two years back, one such crude bomb was used during a gang war in Faisalnagar area near Narol. When asked whether these bombs were meant to be sold to such gangs, Bhadran stated that the picture will get clear only after Altaf lands into their net.
"We have arrested Fakir under the relevant sections of Explosive Subtance Act and started further investigation. We are also waiting for the forensic report to find out the intensity of these bombs," said Bhadran.
