IED Found At Delhi's Ghazipur Market Defused; Had RDX & Ammonium Nitrate, Says NSG Chief

The planting of an IED in the busy flower market of Ghazipur days before the Republic Day has raised concerns regarding security on January 26. 

Visuals from Ghazipur Flower market (PTI)

New Delhi: Days ahead of Republic Day, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was found in an unattended bag in East Delhi's Ghazipur flower market on Friday, triggering panic among the people. The IED was laetr defused.

Delhi Police said they received information about the unattended bag at around 10:30 am on Friday after which one fire engine was rushed to the spot. 

Soon, a team of National Security Guard's bomb disposal squad and officials from Delhi Police's anti-terror unit Special Cell also reached the spot to assess the situation, IANS reported.

A member of bomb disposal squad attempts to difuse the IED (PTI)

The police then cordoned off the entire area for the safety and security of the people.

"Based on the information received, an IED has been recovered," said Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana. Later the National Security Guard carried out a controlled explosion of the IED and the Delhi Police registered a case.

"A case is being registered in the Delhi Police Special Cell under provisions of the Explosive Act," the Delhi Police said.

#WATCH | Delhi: National Security Guard (NSG) carries out a controlled explosion of the IED found at East Delhi's Ghazipur Flower Market pic.twitter.com/tV0PMYxSLF

— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2022

"A bomb disposal squad of National Security Guard has defused the IED recovered from Ghazipur," said the NSG. 

NSG director general MA Ganapathy said the IED was stuffed with RDX and ammonium nitrate. "The explosive prima facie looks to be a mix of RDX and ammonium nitrate. It was about three kgs in weight and there were some sharpnel embedded," Ganapathy told PTI.

The bomb was placed at the main gate of the flower market. "It is suspected that the alleged person did the recee before planting the bomb and we suspect there was a timer placed inside the bomb," a senior police official told PTI.

The planting of an IED in the busy flower market of Ghazipur days before the Republic Day has raised concerns regarding security on January 26. 

Security agencies have already flung into action and are probing the CCTV footage of the area and the route map through which the IED was transported to the market. The agencies are also looking out for people responsible for this incident.

The whole area has been cordoned off and Special Cell personnel are inspecting the pavement outside the gate where the explosive was reported to be found. Sniffer dogs are also being used in the investigation. 

Initial investigation has reveled that chemical compounds like RDX and Ammonium Nitrate were used in making the IED. "The Bomb Disposal Squad of NSG prima facie finds chemical compounds like RDX and Ammonium Nitrate in the manufacture of IED recovered from Ghazipur," said NSG Director General MA Ganapathy.