Local miscreants or terrorists behind Mancher blast?

18 February,2009 09:31 AM IST |   |  Kaumudi Gurjar

ATS considers both options, as explosives used in the blasts are used to explode pits of wells


ATS considers both options, as explosivesused in the blasts are used to explode pits of wells

Pune's Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) is investigating whether a terrorist organisation is behind the low-intensity blast in a state transport bus in Mancher, 40 km from Pune on Monday night.

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Bombed: Damaged seat of state transport bus under which, the bomb was planted.u00a0The wire that was used to trigger the blast. Pics/Santosh Walse Patil

ATS sources say they are also not ruling out the hand of miscreants interested in creating panic. Peter Lobo, ATS inspector, told MiD DAY "An IED (improvised explosive device) was used to trigger the blast.


An electronic detonator was tied to gelatin sticks to trigger the blast. Part of the detonator and the wrapper in which the gelatine sticks were covered were recovered from the spot."

The device had repeatedly been kept under a seat at the back of the bus, which was standing at the terminus when the explosive went off.

"While minor damage was done to the bus, none of theu00a0 six passengers who were seated in the front rows, were injured in the blast," said Lobo.
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ATS sleuths recovered a 12ft wire connected to some gelatin sticks hanging out of a window at the back of
the bus.

"Prima-facie, the person who triggered the blast was present outside the bus when the blast occurred.

Considering the intensity of the blast, chances are that it could be the handiwork of local miscreants attempting to create panic," Lobo said.

API Dnyaneshwar Ganore of the Mancher police station, where the case has been registered, said, "While investigating, we are keeping in mind that the material used in the blasts is usually used for blasting wells."
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Anti Terrorism Squad Peter Lobo ATS inspector electronic detonator Damaged seat transport bus