Mysterious iron safe creates scare in Delhi's CP area

New Delhi: Three controlled explosions were carried out tonight to break open a suspicious iron safe which was abandoned by two foreigners believed to be Nigerian nationals in an autorickshaw in the Connaught place area but nothing damaging was found.

With Delhi on high alert after the Mumbai terror attacks, the safe and a bottle of gel-like substance inside a suitcase triggered a scare after the Nigerians asked the auto driver to halt the vehicle on seeing a constable and ran away. Police initially suspected there may be explosives in the safe.

The incident happened in the evening during peak rush hour traffic and the Bomb disposal squad and National Security Guard(NSG) personnel rushed to the spot between Connaught place Police station and Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in Bhaba Kharak

Singh marg. A dog squad was also pressed into service.

Police have launched a manhunt for the two unidentified passengers who have reported to have taken the autorickshaw from Paharganj near New Delhi railway station.

The autorickshaw driver alerted the police about the mysterious suitcase left behind after the two passengers fled.

Security agencies gave an all clear signal six hours after the incident was reported after breaking open the safe in three controlled explosions.

The area which was cordoned off and security personnel did not taken any chances in dealing with the incident.

Police said the gel like substance recovered is usually used in the making of fake currency. Fake dollars were also found in the safe, police added.

A senior police official said they could not open the suitcase initially as it had an electronic lock.

"We had no other option but to resort to controlled explosion to break open the suitcase. We found some gel-like substance and fake dollars. The gel-like substance is usually used for making counterfeit dollars," the official said.

A senior NSG official said the elite commando force swung into action after getting the information from the Delhi police in the evening.

In the first few hours of the operation, the official said the NSG personnel were in the process of ascertaining whether or not there was an explosive in the bag.

"There is nothing to worry and everthing is clear," police said.