Powerful pipe bomb defused ahead of Advani’s Yatra,1 held

Police said about 10 kilograms of gelatine powder had been packed in two PVC pipes,bound together. The pipes had been linked to four detonators and 12 volts battery,with a 50 metre wire. The bomb was to be operated manually.

Police seized from the site a medical glove and found the gelatine powder had been acquired in Nagercoil.

Suspecting it to be the handiwork of Naxalites,who allegedly have a base in the nearby hills in Madurai and Theni districts,police said the crude bomb was powerful enough to blow up the culvert.

An official of the Bomb Disposal Squad said,“Such bombs are common in Naxal,Maoist areas.” Police detained a person identified as Nehru who is being interrogated.

The explosive was first sighted by locals,who informed the local panchayat member,who in turn alerted the police.

Following the development,police said the Yatra route of the BJP leader was changed and he travelled to Srivilliputhur,Shencottah via Virudhunagar and Sivakasi.

In Delhi,BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said Advani’s Yatra will continue as scheduled. He said BJP has faith in the security agencies both at the Centre and in the states.

Former BJP president Rajnath Singh said the internal security situation was becoming more grim and said the Centre should have a comprehensive action plan to deal with the challenge.

Advani started his second leg of the anti-corruption yatra from Madurai and was to reach Kerala via Srivilliputhur Tenkasi and Shencottah.

In 1998,a series of blasts rocked Coimbatore hours before Advani was to address an election rally in which 58 persons were killed and over 200 injured.