Chennai, June 30: Tension prevailed at the International Airport here as Police recovered a “hand grenade like” bomb along with an iron pipe in front of the Airport this morning, putting security personnel on tenter-hooks.
Thanks to the timely action by the Airport police and Bomb disposal squad, the bomb, described as “granite 90 mark 3 lot 78” category was recovered on time, avoiding a flutter at the airport.
Bomb disposal experts said the bomb, when set off, would trigger huge sound and smoke, but would not cause much damage. The ball-like bomb, with a wick was mostly used for training in army and police, they said.
Around 0900 hrs, the car parking area in front of the airport, suddenly became the cynosure of all eyes as some drivers and contract workers found the bomb and a six inch iron pipe under a tree and alerted the Airport Police.
Convinced that it was a bomb, the Airport police immediately alerted the Airport Manager, who in turn summoned the Bomb disposal squad, even as all the cars, parked in the area were removed and the area cardoned off.
Experts of the Bomb Disposal sqaud, who arrived at the scene, confirmed that the ball like object with a wick was a bomb, but not powerful enough to cause any damage.
Mr Sarath Srinivasan, Deputy Commissioner of Airport Bomb disposal and detection department told newspersons that it was a “Granite 90 mark 3 lot 78” category bomb, which could only make huge noise and trigger huge smoke.
Local Police said it was “sand granite 90” bomb, mainly used in film shooting and manufactured in Sivakasi, a fire cracker making hub in south Tamil Nadu.
Mr Srinivasan said there was no marking to show that the bomb was made in Sivakasi and the details could be ascertained only after a detailed analysis. It had been sent to the Forensic sciences department for analysis, police said.
Soon top police officials, including those drawn from the “Q” branch police, dealing with terrorists and extremists forces in the state held an hour-long meeting and took stock of the situation.
—Agencies