Fire brigade personnel defuse the crude bomb at the sub-collector’s office in Puri. Picture by Sarat Patra

Bhubaneswar, April 8: Panic gripped the Puri sub-collector’s office this morning following recovery of a crude bomb on the office premises.

The police, along with fire brigade, later defused the bomb by putting it in water.

Eyewitnesses said that the crude bomb was covered with leaves and kept at a corner of the office premises.

It was first spotted by two persons who had come to the office for work.

Around 10.30am the duo informed the officials regarding a material wrapped with jute threads.

“As soon as I received the information about presence of what could be a crude bomb, I immediately informed the police,” said sub-collector Uddhav Charan Majhi. Sources said 50 people, including the officials, were present on the premises at that time.

The police and fire brigade personnel were rushed to the spot and defused the bomb. The Puri police have started an inquiry into the matter.

“As it was a crude bomb, it was defused by putting it in the water,” said Puri police chief A.K. Sahoo.

The police are also trying to ascertain whether the bomb is locally made or brought from nearby areas of Puri.

Although the police are yet to ascertain whether the bomb was kept deliberately to hurt any official, sources said the bomb might have been a ploy to cause mischief.

“A number of drug addicts are roaming in the city and most often they carry crude bombs to threaten people. This might be an act of such a mischievous person,” said a source.

However, the residents demanded more vigilant action from the police.

“As the area has various important offices, including the tehsil office and district court, the police should remain alert to avoid such incidents,” said Utkal Das, a local resident.