Coconut shell sparks bomb scare

The object that created the bomb scare in Islampur on Monday. (Mehedi Hedaytullah)

TT, Islampur, May 16: Police were sent into a tizzy after a crude bomb-like object was discovered this morning in front of a hotel on NH31, close to Islampur College where counting of votes will be held on Thursday.

A CID bomb squad in Siliguri was summoned and it set off an explosion. Police sources said the object did not contain any explosive and was an empty coconut shell wrapped with a rope.

The object was discovered around 7.30 in the morning and subdivisional police officer of Islampur, Bhairab Tewari, rushed to the spot. With the memories of a blast at Baisnabnar in Malda on May 2 still lingering, the police were not ready to take a chance.

The police summoned an ambulance and a fire tender to the spot today. Around 3pm, the bomb squad set off a blast by covering the object with explosives.

"A crude bomb-like object was found by the staff of a hotel. We kept it isolated. However, the object did not contain any explosive," said SDPO Tewari.