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| India-Pakistan |
| 18 live bombs found in Surat, India: all defused |
| 2008-07-29 |
| The recovery of at least 18 bombs in Surat created a wave of panic in the diamond city on Tuesday, three days after serial blasts rocked Ahmedabad, but police managed to defuse them. The bombs were found in and around Varacha area, where most of the diamond polishing units of the South Gujarat city are located. Surat accounts for 80 per cent of the world's diamond polishing business. Police imposed a virtual curfew in Varacha and the only relief to the local administration was none of the bomb exploded and they were defused in time. "We have found 18 bombs today and defused all of them," Surat Police Commissioner R M S Brar told reporters this evening. Three bombs each were found from Gajera Circle, Mini Diamond Market, Varacha-Kapodra flyover, two each from Heerabaug, Bhavani Circle and one each from Mahidarpura, Sardar Choki, Labheshwar Police Chowki, Santoshinagar and Matavadi, where it was hanging on a tree. "Most of the information regarding the bombs had come from people. I would request the people to be more alert and immediately inform the police if they find any suspicious material," Brar said. He said the bombs were of low intensity but did not clarify whether there were timer device or not. The Gujarat Government believes the bombs found in Surat are an attempt to distract attention from investigations in Ahmedabad serial blasts, sources said. "This seems to be an attempt to distract attention from Ahmedabad serial blasts or they are planning to strike somewhere else and are trying to distract the attention of authorities," a top state government functionary said. Brar has ordered that schools, colleges, parks and cinema halls should remain closed tomorrow and advised the people to remain indoors. Diamond and textile units are also likely to remain closed in Surat on Tuesday. According to police, most of the bombs were found from residential areas, which are usually crowded. "We are concerned about the recovery of bombs from Varacha. It is affecting our business. All our members will be meeting soon and decide on the further course of action," Surat Diamond Association chairman C P Vanani said. On Monday, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad had defused a live bomb found in a residential area of Varacha. The police had also recovered some explosives along with the bomb. The police on Monday released the sketch of a suspect who might have parked the explosive-laden car in the Heerabaugh area on Sunday. The sketch was based on the description given by a watchman of a nearby building who had seen the man parking the vehicle. On Sunday, the police had recovered two explosive-laden cars from different parts of Surat. Large amount of explosives, shrapnels and timing devices were found in the cars, which were stolen from near Mumbai a few days and bearing fake number plates. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #3 Yes, they get 10 hundred gazillion gold stars. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-07-29 18:11 |
| #2 Must have had one hell of an informant to bag all 18 bombs. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-07-29 18:09 |
| #1 Congratulations to the Surat Police Department. Excellent work. |
| Posted by: penguin 2008-07-29 16:39 |