Swift Action in Pune: ATS and Police Nab Hospital IED Suspect

In a swift and well-coordinated effort, Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Pune City Police Crime Branch successfully arrested a man on Friday. The arrest followed an alleged attempt by the suspect to plant an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at a private hospital located in Hadapsar.

The arrested individual, identified as Shivaji Rathore, was captured at the Nagpur Railway Junction. Authorities reported that he was attempting to escape when he was detained.

The incident began on Wednesday evening when a doctor at the mentioned hospital observed a suspicious item positioned near a washroom. The suspicious object, later confirmed by investigators, resembled a digital clock with visible wiring and was found containing low-grade explosives. Quick action by hospital staff, who notified the police, led to an emergency evacuation and a prompt response by the Pune City Police Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad.

On arrival, the team skillfully removed the IED from the hospital premises, transferring it to a secure location where it was safely defused, averting potential casualties or damage.

Post-defusal, high-ranking officers including Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, along with senior ATS personnel, surged the investigation forward. "Technical analysis and local intelligence were critical in identifying and tracking the suspect to Nagpur," reported a senior ATS official. The collaboration between the ATS and Pune Crime Branch ensured his capture on Friday.

Shivaji Rathore is now being moved back to Pune for interrogation. The motive behind this act, whether extortion, personal grievance, or a broader conspiracy, still remains under investigation. In response, police have heightened surveillance around significant hospitals and public gathering places across Pune as a precautionary measure.

(With inputs from agencies.)