The Raichur police found two improvised explosive devices in cartons inside a KSRTC bus on Friday.

At around 4.30pm on Friday evening, the bus, with registration number KA 36 F 1266, travelling from Hyderabad to Raichur, was stopped at a check point in Raichur’s Shanti Nagar.

The Raichur DCP had organized checks at the Shanti Nagar checkpoint based on information that Rs 2,000 notes were being transported in two carton boxes on that route.

“Up on searching the bus, we found two cartons. We cut open one side of one of the boxes and found wires. Hence the bomb squad was called. A thorough inspection was conducted and in the wee hours of Saturday, it was revealed that the improvised explosives devices were not live. The wires were cut and the boxes disposed as per procedure,” said Raichur SP Chetan Singh Rathod.

He also said that, based on information gathered from the conductor of the bus, the police discovered that two men had got off the bus when it had stopped at Mahabubnagar.

“The conductor has informed us that he had carried out a head count, and there was a passenger count. When the bus left Mahabubnagar, it was less by two individuals. Also, there were two backpacks which were found, that did not belong to any of the passengers in the bus,” SP Rathod said.

The Raichur police are in the process of obtaining CCTV footage at all places the bus had stopped before Mahabubnagar.

Security has also been beefed up in the district.

“We have deployed 600 policemen on night duty at all important circles and public places. Routine and random checks are being conducted at bus stops and railway stations. Two dog squads and one anti-sabotage check team have also been deployed. It is New Year’s Eve and the recent incident has required the deployment of additional security,” SP Rathod said.