Unclaimed bag creates panic in Pathankot

Panic gripped Pathankot town in Punjab after an unclaimed suitcase was spotted by some passersby close to the boundary of an army unit at Simbal Chowk here.

After being informed, police swung into action and rushed the spot, and called a bomb disposal squad. Police asked people to clear the area to allow them to examine the suitcase.

Later, the bomb disposal squad opened the suitcase, and found some papers and army uniform, which brought a sigh of relief to local residents and security agencies.

Divulging details of the incident, Station House Officer of the Mamoon Cantt Police Station Rajinder S. Manhas told ANI: "We got information that an unclaimed suitcase was found at Simbal Chowk, following which we rushed to the spot and called a bomb disposal squad. After an examination of the suitcase, the bomb disposal squad found some papers and an army fatigue. Police will further examine the papers as the bag remains unclaimed."

The unclaimed bag has become a matter of investigation for the security agencies, who are yet to establish whether it actually belonged to some army jawan or is part of some conspiracy.

Things will become clear after examination of the papers. Security agencies seemed to be satisfied with the fact that no explosive or weapon was found in the suitcase.

Rajesh Kumar, a local resident, said, "There was an unclaimed bag lying here since the morning, but nobody went close to it. When police opened the bag, they seized an army uniform and two or three files."

The whole episode brought alive the memory of the terrorist attack at the Pathankot air base on January 2, in which five terrorists and three security personnel were killed, while the gun battle and the subsequent combing operation lasted for about 17 hours.