Even when the security forces are on high alert to ensure a peaceful Kanwar Yatra across Uttar Pradesh, unidentified miscreants detonated a powerful blast in Gonda sending shock waves among the locals.
Luckily, the blast took place in the small hours of Sunday and hence no loss of human life was reported, but the manner in which it was carried out pointed wards a sinister plan.
Senior officials of district administration and police rushed to the spot and later claimed to have recovered a live bomb, detonator, a box, 300-metre-long wire, and explosives from the spot.
They said the matter was being probed and security arrangements for Kanwar Yatra had been further strengthened.
As per reports, the powerful blast took place in a private school in Banigawa hamlet of Khondare locality of Gonda early Sunday morning. The walls of a classroom and several doors were damaged by the impact of the blast.
Superintendent of Police of Gonda, RP Singh, said that the debris of the exploded bomb was sent to Forensic Science Laboratory to confirm the nature of explosive used.
Singh said that while it was not yet known who planted the bomb, but some suspects were being quizzed to extract some lead.
Sources said that the help of Anti-Terrorists Squad (ATS) was also sought for cracking the case.
Earlier, the central intelligence agencies had sounded an alert of possible terror strikes during Kanwar Yatra in UP to disturb communal harmony.
