A low-intensity explosive sound triggered panic among commuters who were plying near Thakur mall on Mumbai- Ahmedabad Western Express Highway (WEH) on Wednesday morning. Following the incident, the Kashimira police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Explosives Act. The incident was reported at around 10.30 am when a biker Amar Ghule (30), a Ghodbunder resident and animator by profession was moving towards Mumbai side on his bike for work got his leg slightly bruised after the sudden explosion. The Kashimira police immediately sealed a portion of the road and after barricading it, searched the adjoining areas. The local shop owners have claimed that they did not spot anyone carrying suspicious material as no shop was opened. Also, the roads were too busy for one to pay attention to. The local police on reaching the spot found two to three metal balls and pieces of plastic bottles after which the Bomb Disposal and Detection Squad (BDDS) along with the Dog Squad and officials from the Anti- Terrorism Squad (ATS) were called for conducting a preliminary investigation. The cops who are also going through CCTV footages have claimed that the area does not have enough cameras and some of them are not functional. A forensic officer on requested anonymity said, "We have collected samples of unknown powder, few metal balls and plastic from the spot. The nature of the explosion reveals that it was smokeless and soundless but it could not be confirmed unless the samples are properly examined." "We believe that the substance could be a firecracker. Hence, the intensity of the sound was low. Official confirmation would be given after we get forensic reports. We had sealed the particular area and searched nearby areas as well. We are also checking CCTV footages of major junctions situated close to the spot and are also ascertaining whether it was an act of mischief. We are conducting an identity search through CCTV footages we have procured," said Superintendent of Police, Thane Rural, Shivaji Rathod.<doc-sep>A low intensity explosion that took place on the busy Mira Road in Thane district. (Image: India Today TV) Maharashtra Police is on high alert after a low intensity blast took place on a busy road near Mumbai on Wednesday and an IED was found on a state transport bus in Raigad district later at night. Police are saying that the low intensity explosion that took place on the busy Mira Road in Thane district was not the work of a sophisticated device but it did contain metal balls. The explosive found on the state transport bus was an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) apparently planted with serious intentions to cause damage. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has already started parallel investigations in the two incidents and teams visited both the locations on Wednesday and Thursday. The BDDS collected samples like metal balls, jute fuse and some unidentified powder from the spot on Mira Road and after defusing the IED found in the bus, sent the samples to Mumbai forensic science laboratory at Kalina for further analysis. In the aftermath of Pulwama attacks where 40 CRPF jawans were killed, Maharashtra Police has increased checks and bandobasts to detect suspicious substances or bags at public places, public transport and high security installations. Sweeps are being carried out at all possible installations by security personnel. Speaking to India Today TV, IG, Konkan Range, Naval Bajaj said, "The explosive device found in Raigad district is sophisticated as it contains a power source, detonator and was definitely planted with a serious intention. As of now we haven't found any similarities between the device that exploded in Mira Road and the one found in Raigad district." A bus conductor with the state transport department found the IED in a state transport bus at Apta village under the jurisdiction of Rasayani police station in Raigad district around 10:30 pm and suspecting that it could be a bomb, he alerted the police. Police sought the help of BDDS (Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad) and defused the IED after which the samples were sent to the forensic science laboratory. Superintendent of Police, Raigad district, Anil Paraskar said, "The bus conductor was vigilant and when he found the suspicious bomb-like device on the bus, he alerted police. Immediately, BDDS teams were called to defuse the device which contained a detonator, fuse and granule-like substances. All the buses and transport vehicles are being checked and people are being told to alert police if they find any suspicious-looking substances left unattended." Maharashtra ATS chief Atulchandra Kulkarni also said that teams of ATS were on the spot in Raigad district and were verifying the details of the incident. Meanwhile there was a low intensity blast in a toilet aboard the Kanpur-Bhiwani Kalindi Express on Wednesday evening.<doc-sep>
After a low-intensity blast took place on a busy road near Mumbai on Wednesday, and an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) was found in Raigad on a state transport bus later at night, the Maharashtra Police is on high alert. The low-intensity explosion that took place on Mira Road in Thane district was not the work of a sophisticated device but it did contain metal balls, the police said. Also, the explosive found on the bus was an IED apparently planted with intentions to cause damage. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has already started parallel investigations in the two incidents. On Wednesday and Thursday, the teams visited both the locations and carried out an investigation. The BDDS (Bomb Detection & Disposal Squad) collected samples like metal balls, jute fuse and some unidentified powder from the spot on Mira Road and after defusing the IED found in the bus, sent the samples to Mumbai forensic science laboratory at Kalina for further analysis. In the aftermath of the terror attack in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir where 40 CRPF jawans were killed, Maharashtra Police has increased checks to keep an eye on suspicious substances at public places, public transport, etc. Sweeps are being carried out at all possible installations by security personnel. Inspector General, Konkan Range, Naval Bajaj told India Today, "The explosive device found in Raigad district is sophisticated as it contains a power source, detonator and was definitely planted with a serious intention. As of now, we haven't found any similarities between the device that exploded in Mira Road and the one found in Raigad district." The IED in the state transport bus was discovered by the bus conductor around 10.30 pm and suspecting that it could be a bomb, he alerted the police. Superintendent of Police, Raigad district, Anil Paraskar said, "The bus conductor was vigilant and when he found the suspicious bomb-like device on the bus, he alerted police. Immediately, BDDS teams were called to defuse the device which contained a detonator, fuse, and granule-like substances. All the buses and transport vehicles are being checked and people are being told to alert police if they find any suspicious-looking substances left unattended." Meanwhile, there was a low-intensity blast in a toilet aboard the Kanpur-Bhiwani Kalindi Express on Wednesday evening.