The entire area around the Mohammadia Shopping Centre in Malegaon has been cordoned off Wednesday afternoon following information that a bomb has been planted inside the building.

Fire brigade personnel have been stationed outside the centre and the bomb squad was searching the premises located at Kidwai road.

Television channels are reporting that explosive substances were found in the building, which is near the Bada Kabristan where four blasts killed 38 people on September 8.

The crowd around the place has been dispersed by police and media has also been kept away from the building.

Anti-Terrorist Squad officials, including S Jaiswal, along with IG P K Jain and Malegaon Superintendent of Police Rajwardhan, have reached the spot.