Gwalior: A bomb was found outside Patankar Bazar branch of State Bank of India (SBI) in Gwalior on September 4, which was later defused by the bomb disposal squad personnel.

The explosive devise fitted with a timer and kept inside a polythene bag together with a letter was spotted near the bank gate around 2.15 pm, city superintendent of police Dharamveer said.

The bomb disposal squad of the city police immediately rushed to the site and defused the device, he said. It could not be ascertained whether the bomb was planted by a terrorist outfit.

Police personnel in strength were also deployed in the locality and the entire area was sealed as reports about the bomb had created panic among people.

The letter accompanying the explosive device carried the name of one Zahir Khan and was addressed to the bank authorities demanding a sum of Rs 20 lakh, police said adding further investigation is in progress.

A team of experts from the Border Security Force (BSF) at Tikamgarh near Gwalior has been summoned to examine the devise thoroughly, they added.

PTI