By IRNA,
New Delhi : Panic gripped India’s diamond city, Surat in Gujarat state as police have recovered ten live bombs, one after another within a span of four hours, from different parts of the Varacha area where most of the diamond units are located.
Ninety-two percent of the world’s diamonds are cut and polished in Surat.
According to reports received here three bombs were recovered and successfully defused by the bomb disposal squad at the Mini Diamond Market area of Varacha soon after another three were de-activated in the same locality.
Later, police received information of four bombs, one did not turn out to be an explosive device.
Police said three bombs were recovered from under the Varacha- Kapodra flyover, which were also defused by the bomb squad.
City Police Commissioner RMS Brar said, “Several bombs have been found in the city. We cannot confirm the number at this stage.
“Earlier, police had successfully defused three bombs found from Labheshwar, Santoshinagar and Matavadi areas of Varacha. Contents of all the nine bombs defused have been sent to the forensic science laboratory for analysis, police said.
According to police most of the bombs were found in residential areas which are usually crowded.
In Matavadi area, the bomb was found hanging on a tree, while in Labheshwar it was found inside an abandoned bag.
Police have sounded a high alert in the city after the recovery of nine live bombs of similar kind.
All schools and shop in the Varacha area have been asked to close by the police commissioner.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Surat Diamond Association C P Vanani said, “We are very concerned about recovery of bombs from the Varacha area. It is affecting our business. All our members will be meeting and decide on the further course of action.”
On Monday, the bomb disposal squad had successfully defused a live bomb which was found in a residential part of Varacha area.
On Sunday the police had recovered two explosive-laden cars from two different parts of the city. Large amount of explosives, shrapnels and timer devices were found inside the cars bearing fake number plates.
On July 26, Ahmedabad, capital city and business nerve of Gujarat state was rocked by 16 serial blasts leaving 50 people killed while 200 others injured. While a day earlier IT hub Bangalore city was also trembled with nine serial blasts claiming 5 lives while around 20 other injured.