Anthrax scare in Warangal, Srikakulam

By Our Staff ReporterWARANGAL, OCT. 24. The anthrax scare galvanised into action the postal and police services here on Wednesday after a postal cover with a powder content of about a 100 grams was detected during sorting at the Warangal Head Post Office (HPO).

The brown cover which was addressed to someone by name M. Giri, son of Govind Rao, Rishi Residential School, Ellam Bazar, Warangal, did not bear any stamps. The sender's address was Bank of Baroda, Kadipikonda, Kazipet, Warangal. It arrived by mail despatched by Kazipet Railway Mail Service in the morning and was detected in sorting shortly later, said Mr. Mekala Komaraiah, head postmaster, Warangal HPO.

Mr. Komaraiah said whether the covers are stamped are not is generally not keenly observed at the despatching post office and they were taken seriously only at the receiving end.

Keeping in view the anthrax rumours, the postal authorities informed the police about the arrival of the cover with some powder later on. The police preserved the cover under lock and key in a cabin within the post office and alerted the State Forensic Science Laboratory (SFSL).

Based on the direction of the SFSL Director, Mr. Gandhi, the cover will be removed under a panchanama on Thursday and sent to the Institute of Preventive Medicine in Hyderabad, the Superintendent of Police, Mr. V.P. Apte, said. The Warangal DSP, Mr. T. Venkat Rao, and other police officials visited the post office.

Our Srikakulam Staff Reporter writes:

Four more covers containing some powdery substance were received at Saravakota and Jalumuru today. The receipt of the letters containing some powder at Aludu in Saravakota mandal on Monday had created a scare in the wake of the anthrax threat.

The four inland letters were received today at the Saravakota and Jalumuru mandal revenue offices and police stations. The Office Superintendent at Jalumuru was stunned by the ``unusual letter'' and called for a doctor, police said. However, on the doctor's advice police were immediately informed. Inside the letter sent to the Saravakota police station the ``from address'' was mentioned as that of a person from Srikakulam. The letter sent to Jalumuru station contained a Guntur address.

Preliminary examination of the inland letters which were received today, however, revealed that the handwriting on them as well as those received on Monday was the same and they were posted from Narsannapeta in Srikakulam district, police said. However, as a measure of precaution the letters were being sent to Hyderabad for further inquiries.

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