Agence France Presse

New Delhi, June 22:

A parcel with a homemade pistol and cartridge was delivered by post today to the palace of Indian President Abdul Kalam, a spokesman for the largely ceremonial head of state said.

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

"The parcel has now been handed over to the Delhi police who are investigating the sender whose name is apparently Mahesh and is a resident of Mujahidpur in Bihar," Khan said.