Bengaluru: A security scare unfolded at the Kalasipalya BMTC Bus Stand around 1 PM on Thursday when an abandoned bag containing a gelatin stick and multiple detonators was discovered near the public toilet area, confirmed S Girish, DCP (West).
The suspicious bag was reported by BMTC staff to Kalasipalya Police, following which a team rushed to the spot and recovered the materials.
“One gelatin stick and six to eight detonators were found. They were not connected or assembled. Initial assessment suggests they may have been intended for quarry-related use,” said DCP S Girish.
An FIR has been filed under the Explosives Act and Explosive Substances Act, and further investigation is ongoing. The items have been seized for forensic analysis.
According to DCP Girish, the explosives were found in a black bag left on a table near the caretaker’s desk. At the time, the caretaker had stepped away. CCTV footage and witness statements are being examined.
“There’s no indication of any sabotage. If there was malicious intent, the materials would have been assembled into an explosive device. These items appear to be kept separately,” he said, adding that the person who abandoned the bag may have panicked upon noticing uniformed BMTC staff and police nearby.
Dismissing speculation, DCP Girish clarified that the incident is not linked to any VIP movement or Chief Minister’s visit, stating: “The CM’s earlier inauguration at the bus stand is unrelated. This is an isolated incident.”
He also pointed out that gelatin sticks and detonators are legally purchasable only by licensed entities for industrial and quarrying purposes, and efforts are on to trace the origin and transporter of the materials.
“We are checking records to identify where these were sourced from. At this point, it appears more like careless handling or deliberate abandonment rather than an intent to harm,” DCP S Girish concluded.
