Date:12/12/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/12/12/stories/2003121205090400.htm

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Gadgets on CM rally route cause flutter

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL DEC. 11. There was a flutter when the sniffer dog detected electronic gadgets under the bridge across the Hundri river in the city here on Thursday. During the routine inspection, the sniffer dog led the team attached to it, to a heap of electronic gadgets which included a mini-portable TV set (used in vehicles), a plug box with several metres of wire and a voltage adopter. The bomb disposal squad was summoned to thoroughly scan the area. The police could not immediately establish whether an attempt was made to employ them for sabotage purpose or anybody discarded the stolen goods there to avoid detection by police.

The police collected the items and sent them to the headquarters for further examination. Senior officers wondered how the gadgets appeared there when the security was so tight throughout the rally route of the Chief Minister and the venue of the meeting. The Chief Minister's rally is scheduled to pass on the bridge in the evening.

The police took into custody two youth claimed themselves to be masons, who were present there. They said they were there to attend nature's call.

The police took over almost half of the city by morning today and iron barricades were put up the entire route of the rally. At many places the lanes connected to the main road were also blocked causing inconvenience to residents.