KOLLAM : A 61-year-old man was harmed when a suspected nation made ‘steel bomb’ kept under an unused jeep blasted at the collectorate-cum-region courts complex in Kollam today.

Sabu, resident of near-by Kundara, was standing close to the jeep having a place with the State Labor Department when the blast happened, police said.

He has gone to the court regarding a case.

preliminary investigation showed the blast was brought on by a ‘steel bomb’ (explosives pressed in steel funnel) planted underneath the parked vehicle, which was in part harmed under the effect of the impact, police said.

Sabu suffered injury in his eye and nose and his condition was not serious, police said adding he had been hospitalised.

Police suspect that explosive was deliberately placed under the jeep, which was not in use for a long time, so as to create a scare.

Bomb squad and other forensic officials are at the spot.

Police said they recovered gelatin sticks and 17 batteries and fuse materials from the jeep.