IED found in bag on state transport bus

Mumbai: A bomb explosion was averted Wednesday night when the driver and conductor of a state transport bus noticed an unattended bag and informed the police about the same. Turns out the police found an improvised explosive device (IED) inside the bag and defused it in the nick of time. Earlier that day, a minor explosion had taken place outside a hotel at Mira Road. Following the two incidents, the Maharashtra police is on high alert.

The IED was found on a bus that plies from Karjat to Apta and back, said an officer from Rasayani police. The bus takes an overnight halt at Apta and heads to Karjat the next morning. Superintendent of police Anil Paraskar, Raigad police, said that Wednesday night at around 10.15pm, the bus reached Apta.

When all passengers got off, the driver and conductor checked the bus to see if any passenger had left behind any of their possessions when they saw the unattended bag containing the device.

They saw wires and circuitry in the device, which was wrapped in plastic and placed in a cloth bag and immediately called the police control room.

The information was relayed to the Rasayani police station. Following this, a police team rushed to the spot.

After inspection, the Rasayani police called in the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), which defused the bomb and took it into custody. The area was then declared safe. The Quick Response Team was called in to control the crowd.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad is currently conducting inquiries in Raigad. All buses and transport vehicles are being checked and passengers are being urged to alert the police if they chance upon any suspicious looking object.

An IED is put together using urea-based powder, electric circuitry and a remote detonator. The device that was found has been sent for forensic testing and reports are awaited, said the police.

The police have registered an offence against unknown persons for negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance under the Indian Penal Code relevant section of Explosive Substance Act against unknown person. Raigad police and multiple teams of the state ATS are conducting inquiries.