Ahead of the Jagganath Rath Yatra to be held in next month, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Wednesday recovered 49 crude bombs and arrested one person in connection with it.
The bombs were allegedly brought in from Uttar Pradesh to create disturbances in the city of Ahmedabad and across Gujarat. The police nabbed Mohd Irfan alias Bala Shahfakir (20), a resident of Rahimnagar in Narol, the industrial area of Ahmedabad.
Apparently receiving a lead that two persons were involved in crude bomb making and camping in Narol area, the police conducted a search operation in the area. While Irfan is believed to be the carrier who received bombs, the main accused has been identified as Altaf alias Sameer, a native of Uttar Pradesh. Irfan, on his part, during preliminary interrogation claimed that he was asked to keep the crude bombs at his home and had no role in making of the bombs.
The seizure of crude bombs ahead of the forthcoming and pious Jagannath Rath Yatra is viewed as a major security threat in Ahmedabad. The Jal Yatra of lord Jagannath started on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the annual Rath Yatra which is scheduled for July 18 this year.
“It appears that Rath Yatra was their main target and they were in the process of assembling more crude bombs before the festival,” said Deepan Bhadran, DCP (Crime). The crime branch officials added that the suspects appeared to be working for a gang or a group associated with terror and anti-social activities wanting to cause large-scale damage in the State.
The crime branch found the bombs sealed in a cloth bag that the accused were carrying with them. The duo were standing near the crowded area at Narol but tried to flee when they saw the police approaching them. However, Irfan was caught with the bag of bombs. The bomb disposal squad officials later checked the crude bombs and found them to be made of nails, bolts and flash powder. The bombs were later disassembled and samples sent to the forensic laboratory for a detailed report. The accused has been arrested under Section 4 (A) (B) of the Explosives Substances Act.
Ahmedabad Rath Yatra is almost a century-old practice and is second to Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra. In the past it has received threats and attacks. In fact, the idols of the deities are protected by a bullet proof glass during the yatra that travels across the narrow lanes and bylanes of old city of Ahmedabad. The trouble during Rath Yatra had also led to large scale communal riots in the city in the past.