Bomb defused near railway station

It is a well-known fact that terrorism has plagued Pakistan for quite some time and security forces are ever vigilant to thwart the efforts of terrorists who are hellbent on destroying the peace and security of the country.

A similar threat was timely detected and foiled as a team of bomb disposal squad (BDS) experts defused an improvised bomb planted in a bottle in the proximity of Rawalpindi Railway Station on Wednesday.

The intrepid squad defused the improvised bomb with the use of a water gun. BDS officials said that one kilogramme (kg) of explosive material was used in the bomb while an IED device, a cellphone, and batteries were attached to the bomb.

The investigation of the incident was handed over to the counter-terrorism department (CTD).

A Rawalpindi police spokesperson disclosed that a conscientious citizen informed them of the bottle bomb, through the police emergency helpline 15, planted on Railway Road near a local hotel.

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On receiving the tip-off, security forces and BDS sprang into action and rushed to the site to cordon off the area. Heavy contingents of Cantt police also arrived on the site.

The squad initiated the operation and the bomb was defused during the operation. Rescue 1122 and a fire brigade were also summoned to the site as a pre-emptive measure in case of a mishap.

After the bomb was effectively rendered useless, police personnel engaged in collecting evidence. A spokesperson said that the terror attempt was foiled due to timely action.

The case of the incident was registered at the Rawalpindi CTD station while the investigation would also be carried out by the department.

Sources informed The Express Tribune that the initial investigation of the case had been completed.

Experts disclosed that one kg explosive material was used in making the bottle bomb while a locally-made IED device, a cell phone, and two mobile batteries were also attached with it.

Sources told shards of the bottle and other equipment would be sent to the forensic laboratory in Lahore. The police also conducted a search operation in the vicinity to find any traces of the miscreants.

The closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the surrounding buildings on Railway Road would be obtained while the testimonies of witnesses and residents of the nearby buildings would be recorded as well, the spokesperson maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2021.