Fake IED found near rly under bridge, probe on

Prayagraj: A fake improvised explosive device (IED) caused panic among the locals near a railway under bridge (RUB) located at Rewa road of Naini on Saturday morning.
On getting the news, police cordoned off the area and diverted traffic as members of the bomb disposal and anti-terrorist squads reached the area. However, investigation revealed that a fake IED resembling a time bomb, made by using water bottles had been put at the site by some unidentified miscreant, police said.Efforts have now begun to identify and nab the culprit, they added.
SSP-Prayagraj Ajay Kumar confirmed the incident and said it seems to be a mischievous act by someone deliberately trying to create panic.
“Everything is normal. We are now trying to identify the culprit with the help of CCTV cameras in the vicinity,” he added.
According to reports, Rambabu, a rag picker spotted a circuit-like object in bottles near a RUB close to Leprosy crossing on Rewa Road in Naini on Saturday morning and informed a nearby tea seller. The tea seller in turn informed the police.
Within moments, a police team reached the spot followed by senior officials including SSP Ajay Kumar, SP trans-Yamuna Saurabh Dixit and bomb disposal squad. Following the protocol, the police cordoned off the area and diverted all traffic for a while. The bomb disposal squad conducted investigation using a bomb detector. The members of the bomb disposal team also went on an alert when a timer was detected. However, when the bomb disposal team opened the packet, they found it to be a fake IED.
Police said the culprit had used disposable water bottles and even installed a timer connected by inserting an electric wire in it. The bottles were pasted with red color tape giving it an overall appearance of genuine IED.
It is worth mentioning that in 2016-17 also many such fake IEDs were found in different areas of the district including Meja. However, the police had failed to find the culprit.