The temple town of Madurai had a scare on Saturday after a “lunch box bomb” was delivered to a local trader.
Though the contraption, packed in a lunch box, had the makings of an improvised explosive device — ammonia, timer and electric wires — and was delivered on Friday evening, it was defused on Saturday morning.
A youth had delivered the package at the KLK Complex, located in the heart of city, said a police officer. It was intended for Jamal and Umar Farooq, who have a shop there.
Since the shop was closed, the youth delivered the package to an adjacent shop, with a request that it be handed over to its owners. On Saturday, when Umar opened the parcel, he found the bomb.
A police spokesman said they have taken note of the incident, especially in view of a planned visit of Gujarat CM Narendra Modi. Modi was to visit Madurai on Friday, but the plan had been cancelled some time ago.
Last October, a pipe bomb was detected in a culvert on the road near the town that BJP veteran Lal Krishna Advani was to take during his rath yatra.
The police are probing if there is any connection between the two incidents. Umar’s antecedents and a possible link with those involved in the pipe bomb case are being examined.
{{/usCountry}}The police are probing if there is any connection between the two incidents. Umar’s antecedents and a possible link with those involved in the pipe bomb case are being examined.
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