A bag containing an explosive substance with some basic features of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was found near the ticket counter of Mangaluru International Airport on Monday morning.
The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) of the city police secured the bag in the morning, put it in a Threat Containment Vehicle and took it away to an open plot in Kenjar around a kilometre away, where BDS officials are trying to diffuse the explosive. Police sources said the bag contains a metal coin box in which explosive substance and metal pieces were placed. The timer connected to the explosive substance is reportedly not working.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) manning the Airport security, noticed the bag on Monday morning, secured the area and isolated the bag. Dog Squad from the city police indicated an explosive material and BDS was immediately pressed into action.
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Police said a person is suspected to have come in an autorickshaw around 9:20 a.m. and planted the bag, around 10ms away from the Air India ticket counter. Police are analysing the CCTV footage of the airport and are said to have zeroed in on certain suspects and an autorickshaw.
Meanwhile, the operations of the Mangaluru Airport were largely undisturbed.
Home minister Basavaraj Bommai termed the incident an attempt to hit at the economic interests of the country, evident in how airport was targeted and said strict action will be taken against those elements behind the incident. “The State government has already identified Mangaluru as a place where anti-national elements are active and accordingly investigation has been taken up,” he said.
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He also said security had been tightened at all airports across the State including Bengaluru, Hubballi and Belagavi.