Maoist group owns up to Patna blast, two bombs found

A Maoist group, People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), on Tuesday claimed responsibility for a bomb blast in a residential colony in the Bihar capital on Monday night, police said.

No casualties were reported in Monday's blast, and police later recovered two more live high-intensity bombs from the site.

"A self-styled spokesperson of the PLFI telephoned newspaper and TV channel offices in Patna on Tuesday claiming the group was behind Monday's bomb blast," an official at the police headquarters here said.

A team of the National Investigation Agency on Tuesday began a probe into the blast to ascertain the involvement of any terror organisation. Officials visited the spot and collected evidence.

"A timer device of lotus brand was attached to the bombs. Such bombs were also recovered during the 2013 serial blasts in Patna during then BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's rally," police said.