2 injured as ‘parcel bomb’ goes off in Moga courier shop
MOGA : A suspected parcel bomb meant to be delivered at Sangrur exploded at a courier shop in Chamber Road on Wednesday, injuring the shop owner, Vikas Sood, 50, and a customer, Rakesh Tayal. The parcel contained a battery explosive and sharp nails.
With the explosion coming just ten days after four low-intensity blasts hit the Maqsudan police station in Jalandhar district, there was initial panic with senior police officials, including Ferozepur range inspector general (IG) Mukwinder Singh Chhina, rushing to the spot.
Moga deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Kesar Singh said an inspection of the packaging of the parcel had revealed that it was sent from Shahkot and was meant to be delivered at Rajyana House, Patiala Gate, in Sangrur. The identity of the recipient could not be established.
“An unidentified middle-aged man brought the parcel at the shop, claiming that there were T-shirts inside. When the shopkeeper asked him to complete formalities like giving his identity card etc, he vanished.
“The shop owner opened the parcel after he got suspicious as it did not have the complete address and mobile number of the sender,” the DSP added.
Sood has been referred to the
THE POLICE RULE OUT TERROR ANGLE; THE PACKET WAS TO BE DELIVERED IN SANGRUR DISTRICT
Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana; Tayal is admitted to the Moga civil hospital. Sahil Sood, the owner’s son, said, “Our family is in a state of shock. We have no rivalry with anyone.”
IGP Chinna said that the parcel contained low-intensity explosives, adding that a forensic team from Chandigarh had been called in.
A senior police officer from Chandigarh told Hindustan Times that preliminary investigation had revealed the case to be of personal rivalry and ruled out any terror angle to the blast.