Bengaluru: Gelatin sticks, detonators found near Kalasipalyam BMTC bus terminal

Six gelatin sticks and some detonators were found in a carry bag outside the toilet inside Kalasipalya Bus stand.

Bengaluru: Six gelatin sticks and 12 detonators were found in a carry bag at the Kalasipalyam BMTC bus stand in western Bengaluru on Wednesday.

"The gelatin sticks and detonators were found separately in a carry bag outside the toilet at the Kalasipalyam BMTC bus stand,” said S Girish, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West).

The Kalasipalyam police and bomb squad recovered the explosive items. A case was registered under relevant sections of the Explosive Substances Act and the Explosives Act. The police also invoked sections 288 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance) and 61(1)(a) and (b) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The FIR was based on a complaint by Mallappa R Kattimani, Assistant Traffic Superintendent, who said two security staff found the unclaimed bag near the gents' washroom around 1.15 pm and handed it to him.

Suspecting danger, Kattimani alerted the police control room. Officers opened the bag and found gelatin sticks and detonator lines inside.

"Preliminary investigation suggests the bag was dropped off by an unidentified person. The gelatin sticks appear to be the type used in quarries. Since they were stored separately from the detonators, there is no indication of a planned mischief at this stage,” said a senior officer.

He added that the bag was placed on a table outside the washroom, likely when the caretaker was away.

"It appears the person may have panicked on seeing someone in a khaki uniform — possibly mistaking a BMTC official for a police officer — and fled, leaving the bag behind. The suspect is yet to be identified.”