Bomb found in car Manipur Raj Bhavan's parking lot

A possible attack in the highly guarded Raj Bhavan in Manipur was foiled today when a powerful bomb packed with 25 kg of explosives and three hand grenades were found in a car in the premises and governor Gurbachan Jagat was at home.

The Maurti-800 in which the three powerful grenades, iron nails, bolts and two mobile handsets were recovered was quickly towed away and the explosives defused at the State Police Training Centre at Pangei, about 10 km away, Imphal West district Superintendent of Police L Kailun said.

The two mobile phones could have been used to trigger an explosion, he said.

The explosives were found by securitymen in the parking lot of the Raj Bhavan at 11:30 AM and the governor was inside at that time, official sources said.

The sources said two Maruti-800s entered the Raj Bhavan in the morning and the occupants of the cars told securitymen they were visitors. After reaching the parking lot, all the occupants remained in one car and left the premises, the sources said.

The car which remained in the parking lot aroused suspicion of securitymen who found the explosives, the sources said, adding the genuiness of its numberplate was being ascertained.

The police were trying to find out how the explosive-laden car entered Raj Bhavan when people and vehicles are checked with metal detectors, the sources said. Its owner was also being traced.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility.