Members of the bomb disposal squad with the defused explosives at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Telegraph picture

Patna, March 2: A day after eight crude bombs were found metres away from the Gandhi Maidan police station, two persons were detained for questioning today.

The duo was caught during raids at Domtoli areas in Chajjubagh and Nala Road, late last night.

A senior police officer said: “The bombs recovered were small and of low intensity. Two persons have been detained on suspicion and are being questioned. There are criminals who live and operate from slum areas. Subsequent raids are on as well.”

The recovery of the bombs and the accidental explosion that left four child rag pickers injured has raised concerns on the police alertness in Patna.

An officer told The Telegraph: “Our aim is to find the people who had stashed the box with the explosives in the garbage bin. We also need to find the reason behind this. Maybe the criminals wanted to hide the explosives in the garbage bin. We are investigating the matter.”

However, sources said there could be reasons other than just hiding the explosives in the garbage bin.

“Why should a criminal hide the bombs in a place where it can be easily discovered? The garbage bins are regularly cleaned by the Patna Municipal Corporation. The rag pickers also sift through the garbage. Criminals can hide bombs and firearms in much better places if they want to. There must be some other motive to this. The criminal might have been forced to dump the bombs in the garbage bin and flee in fear of a police raid,” said another officer.

As the Bihar Divas slated to be celebrated at Gandhi Maidan on March 22, the bombs are a serious security concern, sources said. But senior officers maintain they are working hard on the case.

A senior officer said: “We are looking into the matter seriously. The police are on high alert.”