NIA team in K’shetra

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, May 27

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday examined the Haryana Roadways bus and the site at Pipli where a low-intensity blast took place on Thursday.

The two-member team also held a meeting with the police and intelligence officials for a briefing about the incident.

The roadways bus of Sonepat depot has been kept at the police lines here for detailed examination by forensic experts.

At least eight people, including the driver and the conductor of the bus, had suffered burns in the explosion.

Investigators said the improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated with a time device in the bus. A mixture of chemicals was used in it.

The bag containing the bomb was kept in the middle section of the overhead luggage rack inside the bus.

Though the NIA officials did not speak to the media, Superintendent of Police Simardeep Singh told reporters that an investigation was under way.

He said forensic experts were analysing details to establish the pattern of the Pipli blast with two recent similar incidents at Panipat railway station.

Singh said other central agencies were also working in close coordination with Haryana Police’s special investigating team (SIT) formed under the Additional Director General of Police (Crime) SS Kapoor.

Officials of the Intelligence Bureau from Chandigarh and Ambala also visited the city for investigations.