White powder, waste paper found in boxes abandoned near Shivamogga railway station

SHIVAMOGGA: After two suspicious boxes were found near the railway station here, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, which arrived from Bengaluru, managed to open them in the wee hours today amid pouring rain and found some white powder in bags which was placed within the boxes.

Police said the powder was non-explosive and samples have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for further tests. Based on the registration number of the car which dropped off the boxes, the vehicle was traced to Tiptur in Tumakuru district and two persons have been taken into custody for questioning, they said.

A BDDS personnel removing waste paper from one of the boxes.

Panic prevailed after the two suspicious looking boxes were found on Sunday and the bomb squad was called in from Bengaluru and a canine squad was also called in. Sand bags were placed around the boxes and the place was barricaded to prevent anyone from going near the boxes.

The bomb squad arrived in Shivamogga around 8 pm, but was hampered by continuous rain. The lock of the first box was opened at 2.40 am by blasting it and the second one at 3.24 am. Two polythene bags each were found inside the boxes which contained some white powder and some waste paper.

Superintendent of Police G K Mithun said they are questioning the duo who were detained.

Superintendent of Police G K Mithun said, “There was no explosive substance in the boxes and only some waste materials were inside them. The white power seems to be table salt as per preliminary inquiry and hence, the boxes were heavy. We have collected CCTV footage about the vehicle which dropped off the boxes on November 3. Those detained have criminal background and we are conducting further investigation”.