JACOBABAD, March 25: An explosion occurred in a small rice mill in front of the education office here on Thursday evening, police officials and witnesses said.

Police officials said the explosive device was home-made and the explosion had created a large crater, adding that no loss of life or property had occurred.

Officials said the security was tightened in the area, adding that heavy contingents of police and rangers had been deployed to cordon off the area, effectively blocking the National Highway.

Officials of the bomb disposal squad had arrived at the scene of the crime till the filing of this report. Our Sukkur Correspondent adds: The rice mill belonged to Jakhrani tribesmen. Sources said that the owner of the mill had recently bulldozed the rice mill's structure for establishing a new building.

SNATCHED: A businessman, Gopaldas, was deprived of his motorcycle on Tuesday in the jurisdiction of city police station. He was on his way to Keenjhar chowk in Gharibabad Mohalla when unidentified armed men stopped him at gunpoint and snatched motorcycle. No FIR was lodged till the filing of this report.