Imphal: A possible attack in the highly
guarded Raj Bhavan in Manipur was foiled on Friday when a powerful
bomb packed with 25 kg of explosives and three hand grenades
were found in a car in the premises and Governor Gurbachan
Jagat was at home.
The Maurti-800 in which the three powerful grenades, iron
nails, bolts and two mobile handsets were recovered was
quickly towed away and the explosives defused at the State
Police Training Centre at Pangei, about 10 km away, Imphal
West district Superintendent of Police L Kailun said.
The two mobile phones could have been used to trigger
an explosion, he said.
The explosives were found by securitymen in the parking
lot of the Raj Bhavan at 11:30 AM and the Governor was inside
at that time, official sources said.
The sources said two Maruti-800s entered the Raj Bhavan
in the morning and the occupants of the cars told securitymen
they were visitors. After reaching the parking lot, all the
occupants remained in one car and left the premises, the
sources said.
The car which remained in the parking lot aroused
suspicion of securitymen who found the explosives, the sources
said, adding the genuiness of its numberplate was being
ascertained.
The police were trying to find out how the
explosive-laden car entered Raj Bhavan when people and
vehicles are checked with metal detectors, the sources said.
Its owner was also being traced.
No individual or group has claimed responsibility.
Bureau Report
