Bomb scare in M S University keeps police on toes

Vadodara, Jul 29 (UNI) The prestigious M S University of Baroda today witnessed some anxious moments when police stopped classes in more than a dozen faculties to conduct a thorough search for explosives following an email.

Police swung into action this afternoon immediately after some local news channels received an anonymous email claiming that bombs had been planted in the university campus.

As the news spread, students were immediately evacuated from all the hostels and faculties like commerce, arts, fine arts and polytechnic.

Sayajiganj police station inspector D L Jhala, who led the search operation with help of dog squads, said no objectionable thing had been found so far. The search was still on in several other faculties of the university, he said.

Following the incident, the university authorities have convened an emergent meeting to take stock of the situation.

According to assistant police commissioner K M Chaudhury, since Saturday's serial blasts in Ahmedabad, Vadodara city police control room had already received more than 15 calls mostly informing police about unclaimed vehicles and objects.

Police was trying to trace out an anonymous caller who yesterday claimed to have had planted a bomb at Tarsali market under Makarpura police station. The call was declared a hoax after nearly a couple of hours search of the market, he added.

Meanwhile, Vadodara police has further intensified its patrolling and checking of vehicles at all important public and private places, including markets and malls, following recovery of live bombs in Surat city today.

Talking to UNI, police commissioner Rakesh Asthana said the security had been put on high alert against a possible terror attack and appealed to the people to immediately inform the police control room, if they come across any suspicious object or unclaimed vehicles in their localities.

Mr Ashtana said police was yet to find any clue about the fake Vadodara registration number plates, which were reportedly used by perpetrators of the Ahmedabad serial blasts and the two cars seized in Surat with explosive materials.

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