The abandoned tool box.
Bengaluru: An abandoned black toolbox at the KR Pura metro station in eastern Bengaluru caused panic for about 30 minutes on Wednesday, the police said.
Officials were alerted around 4 pm after metal detectors flagged the locked box.
The Mahadevapura police inspector and his team went to the spot, following which the bomb squad, fire department, and ambulances were called in as per the Standard Operating Procedure.
“There was panic for around half an hour as it is a busy metro junction,” a police officer said. “With Independence Day approaching and VIP programmes expected in the city, we acted swiftly to avert any incident.”
As officials carefully examined the box, Manjunath Jadhav, a technician with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), approached the police and claimed ownership. The box contained metal tools and had triggered the detectors.
Jadhav had returned from Haryana earlier that day after a training programme and was end route to deposit the toolbox at his office. He had unintentionally left it at the metro entrance while juggling multiple bags after arriving by train.
After verification, the police confirmed his identity and returned the toolbox.