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GPO bomb scare after parcel emits ‘strange’ sound

Bomb disposal squad sleuths took over an hour to find a battery-operated liquid sprayer inside that had got automatically activated

Our Special Correspondent Dalhousie Published 25.08.22, 06:38 AM
A member of the bomb squad unpacks the parcel outside the GPO on Wednesday

A member of the bomb squad unpacks the parcel outside the GPO on Wednesday Telegraph picture

A harmless-looking parcel, waiting in transit at the Kolkata GPO on Wednesday, spread panic among officials after it started to emit a “strange buzzing sound”.

The sound prompted GPO officials to call the police fearing there was a “ticking bomb” inside the parcel, police said.

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Bomb disposal squad sleuths took over an hour to unwrap the box and found a battery-operated liquid sprayer inside that had got automatically activated.

A GPO official said the parcel had come from Karnataka and was heading for Siliguri.

"It was emanating a strange sound that sent several GPO officials into a tizzy. We isolated the parcel and called the police,” said an official at the GPO.

A team of officers from Hare Street police station inspected the parcel and alerted the bomb disposal squad.

“It was a big parcel. We cordoned off the area. The sound made us think that there was some type of a circuit inside,” said an officer of the bomb disposal squad.

After taking due precautions, the team unwrapped the box and opened the cover to find a liquid spray machine inside.

“The battery-operated machine was lifted out of the box. On a closer look, it was found that the machine had somehow got activated. There was no liquid inside,” said a senior police officer.

“The machine could be used for spraying insecticides”, read the product details on the box.

A senior official of the Kolkata GPO said as nothing suspicious was found in the parcel, it would be repacked and sent to its destination.

“We have got a green signal from the police. Hence, it will be repacked and redirected to its destination in Siliguri,” the official said.

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