The Hindu : Explosive devices found at Legislators' Home

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 02, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Explosive devices found at Legislators' Home

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE NOV. 1. Two explosive devices with battery charged detonators, connected to a timer, were found at the Legislators' Home, adjacent to the Vidhana Soudha, on Saturday afternoon.

The explosive devices were planted on either side of the door of a public toilet in the second floor of the old block of the Legislators' Home. The Bomb Disposal Squad defused the devices.

Two pamphlets in the form of computer printouts were found pasted on the walls of the toilet. The author of the pamphlets in English with a title, "This begins revolution," called himself Azad. The pamphlets said: "I am not a terrorist, naxalite or an Islamic militant but a common Indian fighting against corruption. My aim is to get azadi from corruption."

The Commissioner of Police, Bangalore, S. Mariswamy, told presspersons that it appeared to be case of mischief and the chances of explosion were bleak, as the devices were "not properly connected."

The explosive material was packed in two plastic 100 ml. tins of Mysore Sandal talc. Some officers claimed that the explosive was gelatine. Mr. Mariswamy, however, said that the substance would be sent for chemical analysis to the Forensic Science Laboratory. The detonators were similar to those used in quarries.

At about 3 p.m. the City Police Control Room received an anonymous call saying that bombs had been planted at the Legislators' Home.

The Bomb Disposal Squad personnel who searched the premises in vain were about to leave the place when a Legislators' Home employee alerted them that there were bomb-like devices in a toilet. The squad rushed there and defused the devices.

Mr. Mariswamy said the suspicion was that the person who had planted the explosives might have himself called the Police Control Room.

"If his intention was to cause damage, he would not have informed the police," he said.

The police have traced the call and would soon be able to catch the caller.

The Commissioner of Police, dismissing the charge of security lapse, said that the security at the Legislators' Home would be beefed up.

He maintained that the staff of the police outpost at the Legislators' Home were doing a "good job."

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