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Pullu defused it with a plierSatya Narayan Prasad Gupta aka Pullu, a footmat seller in Varnasis busy Dashaswamedh Ghat market, spotted a blue bag left in front of his shop by two men, who just made a purchase.
I told them they had left their bag. They said it would just be a minute as they were buying something from the neighbouring shop. I got busy with a woman customer, Pullu explained, But I noticed that the two had disappeared. I immediately called the police.
The police arrived quickly as a high alert had been issued after the temple blast. The inspector told me to open the bag. I noticed sand falling out. I cut it with the help of a plier, said Pullu, who unknowingly defused the bomb.
A father of four sons and girl, Pullu has turned into the Varnasi idol in his locality. When Sunday Mid Day contacted him, he was being patted by the Varanasi Yuva Udyog Vyapar Mandal general secretary Uttam Mukhejee.
This boy has done us proud. He has saved our lives, said Mukherjee.
While the UP government has announced Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased in the temple blast, and Rs 1 lakh to the injured, the Mulayam Singh government is yet to acknowledges Pullus timely, life-saving act.
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