Date:27/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/27/stories/2008092751120400.htm

Karnataka

‘Live’ bomb found near culvert

Staff Correspondent

Police cordon off the area; two of four lanes of highway blocked

Having a closer look: Police personnel inspecting the bomb that was found at Venkatapur village, near Dharwad, on Friday.

DHARWAD: A bomb suspected to be “live” kept in a steel box was found near a culvert on the Pune-Bangalore highway between Shinganalli and Venkatapur villages near Dharwad on Friday sending people into a tizzy.

The bomb was wrapped in a gunny bag. The bag was first noticed by residents of Sudugada Siddara Colony near Ventakatapur village, situated about 18 km from Dharwad.

“It was around 8.30 a.m. that the Dharwad district control room received a phone call informing about the suspicious object near the culvert. Immediately, the police rushed to the spot and on inspection it appeared to be a bomb-like object. Consequently, the authorities concerned were alerted,” Inspector-General of Police (Northern Range) Raghavendra Auradkar told presspersons at the site.

“The bomb is kept in a steel box. There are two cast iron pipes with lids, two detonators, a small LPG cylinder and thin wires connecting them. There is explosive material in powder form in the steel box but we are not sure what it is. Only tests will reveal the explosive material,” he said.

Mr. Auradkar said pieces of electric wire were found along a stretch of around 500 metres by the side of the service road of the national highway. He said a farmer had found a cast iron pipe with lid and wires sticking out of it by the roadside on Thursday. He took it to be a toy and took it home.

“He handed over the same to the police on Friday. It will also be subjected to tests,” the IGP said.

On whether the bomb was a live one, Mr. Auradkar said the chances were only 5 per cent, but the police did not want to take any chances.

He said he would be able to give details only after the bomb disposal squad from Bangalore, which was likely to arrive by late evening, conducted tests. Following the discovery of the “live” bomb, the police have cordoned off the area and blocked two of the four lanes of the national highway.

Meanwhile, sniffer dog squad has been pressed into service to find if there were any other bombs in the vicinity. Superintendent of Police of Dharwad district D. Prakash and a few police officers from Belgaum district are monitoring the situation.

The waterlogged culvert was cleared to see if there were any other objects hidden there. However nothing was found.