With the 2019 Lok Sabha elections just days away from commencing, a cache of bomb-making materials, weapons and explosives were seized from a house in Pune, Maharashtra. Rajaram Abhang, 71, was arrested after the seizure, according to an official in the Pune Rural police’s anti-terror cell. “Acting on a tip-off, the police on Tuesday raided Abhang’s hut located at a farm in Junnar tehsil where a large amount of bomb-making material, country-made pistols, pipe bombs, some detonators and gunpowder were seized,” the official told PTI.
The Indian Express reported that the police “recovered four pipe-like-structures used for making “pipe bombs”, two country-made electric gun machines operating on electric current, gun powder, one more explosive powder wrapped in oily paper, two swords, two javelins, 59 detonators including 55 non-electric and four electric detonators, one electric switch, one electric battery, iron splinters, helmet and a hand-made body armor from the spot”.
Per the Indian Express, the Pune Rural police issued a press release saying that Abhang had allegedly attempted to kill his wife with a bomb in 2003, after he suspected her of having an illicit affair. The Pune Mirror reported that he put a bomb on a motorcycle that he placed next to his home, and that his wife and three children in the area were wounded in the explosion. Abhang was arrested and booked under Indian Penal Code sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance), 307 (attempt to murder), and 486 (Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc), the Indian Express said of the 2003 incident. He was kept in prison for three years before being released on bail.
Assistant Police Inspector Jyoti Dhamale, who is investigating the case, told the Express that it wasn’t known if Abhang was affiliated to any particular group or outfit.
Pune will go to the polls on Tuesday, April 23.