On ganja trail, cops arrest man for possessing country bombs

CHENNAI: Kancheepuram district police on Friday arrested a man for possession of country bombs at his rented house.

Police also found materials used to make the explosives.

Sivakanchi police were acting on a tip off about ganja peddling in Alwar Bungalow neighbourhood in Kancheepuram.

Police personnel on plain clothes were deployed in the neighbourhood and they detained a man on suspicion. As he gave contradictory answers to their questions, police checked him and found ten ganja packets on him.

The man was identified as Siva Shankar of Orikai. Investigations revealed that he was working as a temporary staff in the municipality office and a perusal of his mobile phone led police to a gallery full of photographs with gangsters and history sheeters in the locality.

During enquiry, police found that he had rented a house in Alwar Bungalow neighbourhood, from where he operates for his illegal activities. When police checked the house, they found country bombs and equipment and materials used to make the explosive.

Investigations revealed that Siva Shankar along with his accomplices had planned to eliminate a rival gang to claim their turf in ganja peddling and had sourced the country bombs for this purpose.

Police recovered four bombs from the house and have launched a hunt for his accomplices. The arrested person was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.

In another incident in Chennai, unidentified persons hurled petrol bombs (Molotov cocktail) at the reception area of a lodge at Arcot road in Vadapalani on Friday night, leading to a tense situation there.

While no persons were injured in the attack, glass panes and furniture in the reception area of the lodge were damaged, police said.

According to police sources, the incident happened around 10 pm. The lodge was run by Thameem Ansari of Vadapalani.

The miscreants had come on a two wheeler and hurled the petrol bombs before fleeing.

On information, Police and personnel from Tamil Nadu fire and rescue services reached the scene. The fire was put out before it could cause more damage.

Virugambakkam police are investigating the identity of the suspects based on CCTV footage in the neighbourhood.