An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was found inside a plastic bag lying on an unused railway track at Bhalej over-bridge in Anand on Monday.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) said it was spotted by a passer-by. The police also found a letter signed by an alleged SIMI member, which contained offensive communal remarks.

Around 6.15am, a person found a suspicious plastic bag near the railway track and informed an RPF Jawan posted at the railway station, the police said. On learning about the bomb, the local police, railway police, bomb squad and forensic science laboratory (FSL) officials rushed to the spot. According to the RPF, the bomb was timed to go off at 5.02 am, but it was a dud as the battery was not attached properly.

N D Mishra, Assistant Security Commissioner, RFP, said, “The Ahmedabad-Vadodara-Mumbai track was clear. The IED was found near the Anand-Godhra line.”

However, he ruled out the possibility of such bombs being found in other railway tracks or stations.

“It was placed just to create panic. The letter didn’t threaten of further attacks but contained offensive remarks. The plastic bag was of a cloth merchant in Vallabh Vidyanagar and the person who placed it must be from some nearby area,” said Mishra.

The RPF has handed over the case to the Gujarat Railway Police, which registered a case against an unknown person under Section 4 (7) of the Explosives Act. Investigations are on.