An unattended bag found at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in the early hours of Friday was suspected of containing RDX explosives, an unidentified Central Industrial Security Force official told Hindustan Times. However, a passenger claimed the bag later, saying he had forgotten it, officials said, according to PTI.

The officials said it is almost certain that the bag does not contain RDX, and will be opened in the presence of the claimant, identified as Shahid Hussain. Hussain contacted airport authorities after over 16 hours of allegedly losing his bag.

A CISF trooper found the black-coloured trolley bag in the arrival area of the airport around 1 am. “Immediately, EVD check of the same was carried out and found positive signal of RDX inside the bag,” said the officer. “The baggage was also checked by dog guide, which also gave positive signal for explosive.”

Authorities cordoned off the area and passengers were asked to steer clear of the zone as the bag was moved to a cooling pit with the help of the threat containment vehicle. Following this, the CISF personnel carried out a thorough search of the arrival bay.

CISF deputy inspector general of police and Chief Public Relations Officer Anil Pandey said earlier in the day that even though the bag was suspected to contain RDX, there was no confirmation. “Since there is suspicion, we are taking all precautions,” he told ANI. “There is no confirmation until [the] bag is opened and corroborated with physical checking.”

After the bag was discovered, vehicular and passenger movements were stopped, officials told The Times of India. It was finally restored again at 3.30 am. According to the standard process, the bag would have remained in the cooling pit for the next 24 hours and checks would have conducted after that.

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