Bomb Sets Off Panic

SOLAPUR, India, 4 July 2006 — Panic gripped Pandharpur, a temple town in western India, after the discovery of an old unexploded bomb on Sunday evening. More than two million Hindus had converged onto the town from all over the country to celebrate a religious occasion.

Rumors of terrorists planning blasts also raised sectarian tension in the town.

District Superintendent of Police Vinay Kumar Choube said the bomb was discovered in the Old Lane area by civic employees while cleaning a drain. Explosive experts found the bomb old and rusted, Choube said it could not have exploded.