NEW DELHI, June 22: A parcel with a homemade pistol and cartridge was delivered by post on Tuesday to the palace of Indian President Abdul Kalam, a spokesman said.

The arms were detected during a routine X-ray check of mail received at the 340-room palace in central New Delhi and not sent to the president, spokesman S.M. Khan said.

Palace police chief S.B. Tyagi said detectives traced the weapon to a gunsmith identified as Mahesh Sav in Bihar and said the man was soon arrested.

Other police officials said a letter in the parcel purportedly written by Mahesh Sav suggested the arrested man just wanted to show off his craftsmanship to President Kalam, the scientist behind India's missile programme. -AFP