Five persons, including a woman and a police constable, were injured and two motorcycles destroyed in a low-intensity blast in Pune on the premises of a police station on Thursday afternoon.
Police Commissioner Satish Mathur said an improvised explosive device (IED) was used. But IED experts suggested that the device contained ammonium nitrate.
The police station is located right behind the famous Dagdusheth Halwai Ganesh temple.
Speaking to reporters at the site of the blast, Mr. Mathur said: “The explosive was planted in the luggage carrier of the motor bike. The bike was stolen. We are ascertaining who it belonged to.”
Senior officials of the Institute of IED Management, Pune, who conducted a preliminary chemical investigation at the spot, said there were indications of ammonium nitrate in the bomb. “Prima facie, we can say that ammonium nitrate was used. However, there was no strong metal casing. A digital timer could have been used, which might have melted,” the officials told The Hindu. When asked if there was a terror angle, the senior official said, “After examining the design, we can say that it was meant to be a low-intensity blast, probably to send out a message. It was supposed to create panic and not cause damage,” the official stated.
Loud noise
The blast occurred around 2.15 p.m. on Wednesday in the parking lot of the Faraskhana police station in a busy area of Pune. Local people said a loud noise was heard after which there was chaos. The area was immediately cordoned off.
A team of the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) reached the blast spot along with a bomb disposal squad. A team of ATS officials from Mumbai was also on its way to Pune, sources said.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj appealed for calm. “I request people not to believe rumours. Police are investigating all angles,” he said.
Akin to 2012 blast
Police officers privy to the investigation pointed to the similarity between the present blast and the one on Jangli Maharaj road in Pune of August 2012. Even though there was no loss of life or property, the Maharashtra ATS has made no headway in the investigation.
The Dagdusheth temple has been on the radar of the terrorist group, Indian Mujahideen. Those accused in the German Bakery blasts in Pune, including Yasin Bhatkal, have been reported to have recced the temple. An attempt to plant a bomb outside the shrine in 2010, as was done in the German Bakery, failed. Bhatkal has been named the prime accused in the bakery blast, along with Himayat Baig who was arrested first.
