Bengaluru: A major security scare unfolded at Bengaluru’s Kalasipalya BMTC bus stand when six gelatin sticks and detonators were discovered near the public toilet area. The explosive materials were found inside a plastic bag, leading to swift action by local police and the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) confirmed that the items were recovered from an unattended bag. An employee of the toilet facility said someone left the bag behind and never returned, prompting them to inform security personnel. Two guards, Prabhavati and Raju, handed the bag to the ATS around 1:15 PM, after routine morning checks showed nothing unusual.
Upon inspection, the contents raised suspicion. The ATS officer on duty alerted the control room, and police teams rushed to the scene. Though no detonator was initially found, the presence of gelatin sticks, often used in quarry blasting, was enough to raise serious concern.
Authorities have ruled out any anti-national links or connections to the Chief Minister’s programme. Preliminary reports suggest the materials may have been left as a dead drop, potentially for use in mining or construction. Investigators suspect origins from quarries in Anantapur, Kolar, or parts of Tamil Nadu.
An FIR has been filed, and CCTV footage from the area is under review. Officials stressed that the explosives, if activated, could have endangered many lives due to the location’s heavy footfall.
Investigations are ongoing to trace the source and motive behind the act.