MP police recover two time bomb-like devices from National Highway-30

BHOPAL/PRAYAGRAJ: The Madhya Pradesh police on Wednesday recovered two time bomb-like devices on the walls of two under-passes at a distance of 15 kms on National Highway-30 in Rewa district, causing panic among the locals. The spots where the devices were found are close to Prayagraj border. A letter addressed to Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath was found with the devices in which Prayagraj police is challenged to stop him. Police officials believe that the fake bomb attached with a clock has been placed by the same man who has been placing such devices in trans-Yamuna areas of Prayagraj earlier.

SP Rewa Navneet Bhaseen said the force reached the over bridge at Mangawa in Rewa district after receiving information about the bomb-like device from locals. The traffic was diverted and Bomb Disposal Squad was called. The BDS team dismantled the device but no explosive was found in it.

“The locals informed the police about the suspicious device. The bomb disposal squad (BDS) recovered the first device having circuits like a time bomb in Manganwa area on Wednesday morning. The second device was found 15 km in Gangave area of the district. A lady police inspector threw it into an agricultural land and poured water to defuse it. Both the devices have circuits but no explosive was found near it,” the SP said.

He added both the devices had a letter addressed to UP CM Yogi Adityanath but the message was not very clear.

In the letters, the miscreant wrote, “CM of UP (Yogiji) Ruk Sakta Hai, Baki Jankar, 8/1/2022 bottle bomb se Prayagraj police, car bus jalega (sic).”

Investigations revealed that wires were wrapped in some bottles and a clock was fitted into them to make it appear like an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). A case has been registered in this connection and help of CCTV footages and mobile surveillance is being taken to identify the person who placed the device, the SP said.

“It will be premature to say anything about purpose because we are still investigating the matter,” he added.

A similar device was found in Sohagi area in Rewa four days back.

SSP Prayagraj Ajay Kumar said the place where the fake bomb is found is under jurisdiction of Rewa police. However, SSP said that it may be the handiwork of the same man who has been placing such devices in trans-Yamuna areas earlier, SSP added.

Since 2016, the person has placed over a dozen fake bombs which he has made using bottles, plastic box, wires, red tapes, clocks and has even used wooden stick and even a corn. The culprit attaches the bottles or plastic box with wires and fastens it with red tape to make it appear like an IED. In some old incidents, he has also attached clock in the fake device.

Each time the culprit places the fake bomb, he attaches a letter written in poor English. In most of the letters, he has issued threats to railway officials and has demanded hefty amount of cash from them. However, in two of the letters found earlier in Naini and Minto Park, he has also issued threats to authorities of ALSTOM company in Naini area and has demanded large amount of money from them