30 in net as 'bombs' explode

Two locally-made bombs are suspected to have exploded near the Meppedu Irula settlement in neighbouring Tiruvallur district early on Wednesday morning, creating panic in the colony.
Police has rounded up at least 30 people of the Irula community for questioning in connection with the incident.

 

The explosions were caused by bomb-like substances that were thrown at a migrant worker staying in the Iruula colony, according to police.

 

"Kanshi, a workers from Odisha staying there had returned from the work around 2 am on Wednesday. He was standing near the public tap to fetch water when an unidentified man reportedly threw two bombs at him. They exploded on the ground, creating a small pit there. We think it was only vengaya vedi (country crackers)," the police said.

 

"The explosions were of very low intensity. Forensic experts said the blast was caused by potassium nitrate and a small amount of sulphur," a senior police officer said.

 

The explosions created panic in the area, following which senior police officers, including the superintendent of the police, visited the spot. The police is trying to ascertain if anybody in the Irula community triggered the explosion to create fear among immigrant workers staying in the colony.

 

However, the residents of the colony claimed that there was no problem with the immigrant workers.
The police added that, apart from a group from Odisha, a group from Jharkhand was also saying in the neighbourhood. "We are trying to find out if there is any enmity between these two groups of workers," the police said.

 

Six police teams were formed to check the backgrounds of the migrant workers to find out if they had any problems in their workplace in Sriperumbudur, the police said.