Hindustan Times (Jalandhar)

BOMB FOUND ON AMRITSARBO­UND TRAIN, LETTER VOWS REVENGE FOR DUJANA KILLING

- Press Trust of India letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

THE TRAIN WAS GOING TO AMRITSAR FROM KOLKATA AND WAS STOPPED AT AKBARGANJ AFTER THE POLICE GOT INFORMATIO­N REGARDING THE BOMB

AMETHI : A crude bomb and a letter, purportedl­y by Indian Mujahideen, warning of revenge for the killing of Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Abu Dujana was on Thursday recovered from the Amritsar-bound Akal Takht Express here, police said.

The recovery of the bomb came to light at a time when security forces were maintainin­g tight vigil ahead of Independen­ce Day. On getting informatio­n about a bomb on the train, the Government Railway Police (GRP) stopped it at the Akbarganj railway station, 70km from Lucknow, ADG (railways) BK Maurya said.

“The entire train was vacated and extensivel­y checked during which a bomb wrapped in “sutli” (jute thread) was found in a packet with two lighters. It seems an attempt was made to prepare a crude device. It could not have exploded on its own,” the ADG said.

“It seems someone is playing mischief. We have alerted all railway stations,” Maurya said.

The train was going to Amritsar from Kolkata and was stopped at Akbarganj after the police got informatio­n regarding the bomb. Circle officer of Tiloi Veenu Singh said the bomb was found in the bathroom of an AC coach (B-3). It was noticed by a passenger at 1.17am.

Some passengers informed the ticket examiner and coach attendant about the bomb and soon railway authoritie­s called the bomb disposal squad, which checked all the compartmen­ts.

After the bomb was defused, the train left Akbarganj station for its onward journey, additional superinten­dent of police (ASP) BC Dubey said.

The bomb has been sent for forensic examinatio­n and the matter is being investigat­ed, the ASP said.

The letter, which was in Hindi, warned: “Dujana ki sahadat ka badla ab Hindustan ko chukana padega — Indian Mujahideen” (India will have to face consequenc­es of Dujana’s death,” police said.

The Indian Mujahideen is a terrorist group formed in 2010 by Abdul Subhan Qureshi. It has been declared a terrorist organisati­on and banned by the Union home ministry. Dujana, who belonged to Pakistan, was Lashkar-e-Taiba’s ‘divisional commander’ in South Kashmir.

He was killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district of J-K on August 1.

Dujana was wanted for many attacks on security forces and political workers in south Kashmir.

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? The bomb was found aboard Amritsarbo­und Akal Takht Express near Amethi on Thursday.
HT PHOTO The bomb was found aboard Amritsarbo­und Akal Takht Express near Amethi on Thursday.

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