KOLAR: A briefcase emitting a beeping sound, abandoned by the service road next to the highway near Tamaka on the outskirts of the city created panic among residents. After a five-hour operation, the police declared that there was nothing in the briefcase and detonated it.
The black briefcase was first noticed by some passersby around 9 am who immediately informed the police. The smart briefcase, manufactured by Crown, has a GPS sensor and starts beeping if someone tries to open it and also alerts the owner. It is suspected that someone may have stolen the briefcase and abandoned it by the roadside.
Kolar SP Nikhil B arrived at the spot along with the dog and bomb disposal squad and the area was cordoned off. Power supply to nearby areas was cut off and an ambulance was also kept on standby. A five-member bomb disposal team from Bengaluru arrived past noon and checked the briefcase with scanner and after it was found to be empty, the briefcase was disposed of.
Kolar SP Nikhil said, “The briefcase was emitting some sound and immediately after we received information, the district BDDS team, fire force arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area. A state BDDS team from Bengaluru arrived and first checked the briefcase with an X-ray device. After it was established that the briefcase was empty, it was detonated with minimum explosion. It is a smart briefcase and we have taken possession of the circuit. The briefcase was completely empty and we will trace the owner. A team has been formed for this purpose”.
The incident had sparked anxiety in the town for over five hours. This was the second time in the last 25 years that a bomb hoax was reported in the district.