Army experts remove live bomb found near CM Mann’s house, investigation underway

Chandigarh: Army bomb disposal experts on Tuesday removed the explosive found in Chandigarh from the spot where it was found. Experts took it with them for analysis.

The explosive was found near a helipad used for the helicopter of the chief ministers of Punjab and Haryana on Monday.

Chandigarh’s disaster management nodal officer Sanjeev Kohli told reporters that in the morning, army bomb disposal experts had reached the spot as part of the investigation. After conducting inspection, the experts decided to carry the explosive with them.

On the question of the explosive not being inactive, he said, “The decision was taken by the expert team of the Army. They are taking it to the Army’s Northern Command nearby to analyse it. It is a technical part of their process after which they will deactivate it.”

The explosives were seen being transported in a military vehicle, accompanied by police vehicles. “The explosive will be kept in an uninhabited place keeping in mind the safety of the people,” said another official present at the spot.

Army experts and bomb disposal squad officials inspected the explosives amid security under police cordon. During this time, a fire brigade vehicle and ambulance were also present at the spot.

Experts were also seen discussing with police and administrative officials before removing the explosives. The area where the explosive was recovered falls in the Chandigarh region near the Chandigarh-Punjab border.

On Monday, the explosive was found in a mango orchard at Nayagaon-Kansal T-point. About one kilometre from the site is the helipad and about two kilometres away is the official residences of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar.

In this connection, the police questioned various people, including several scrap dealers in the surrounding areas, the sources said.