Huge stock of explosives recovered from car in Birbhum ahead of Amit Shah's two-day visit

Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Birbhum in West Bengal on the eve of Bengali New Year has raised concerns about his security after a significant amount of explosive material was recovered from an abandoned vehicle just hours before his scheduled arrival.

The car, a Scorpio, was found parked near a brick kiln next to the Guslara bypass road with 17 boxes containing 3400 Gelatin sticks, with each box containing 200 sticks. The bomb disposal squad was immediately called to the scene to defuse the explosives, and the police have taken the Scorpio into custody.

No arrests have been made so far, and an investigation has been launched by Birbhum police. Amit Shah is expected to rally and lay the foundation stone of a party office in Birbhum, address a rally, and meet with party leaders and guests at the Suri Circuit House. He will also visit the Dakshineswar Kali temple on Saturday.

The Birbhum area falls under the Birbhum LS constituency, where the BJP came second in the assembly elections. However, the work in the districts of South Bengal has not been satisfactory, according to organizational reports of the party. The area of Suri is currently under the TMC district president of Birbhum, Anubrata Mandal, who is currently in jail on charges of cattle smuggling.

Before addressing a BJP meeting at the Benimadhab Institution ground, Shah will pay floral tributes at BR Ambedkar's statue at the Suri Circuit House.