Bomb-making note found with student in Ayodhya
Security agencies in Ayodhya are on high alert after a handwritten note with detailed bomb-making instructions was found at Rajrishi Dashrath Medical College. The note was discovered on Saturday morning, August 1, 2026, and is linked to a first-year paramedical student who was working the night shift in the college’s X-ray lab.
Reports say cleaners found the slip of paper in the X-ray room after the night shift. The note mentioned a “big blast,” the words “Holland Hall,” chemical formulas, diagrams, and details about the structure, size, and power of explosive devices. After reading the note, college staff quickly called the local police.
The student has been identified as Sarfaraz, also known as Sarfaraz Khan in some reports, from Balrampur district in Uttar Pradesh. He is a first-year Lab Technician student in the paramedical course and lives in a hostel near the college.
His father has passed away. On Friday night, July 31, Sarfaraz worked in the X-ray lab from 10 pm to 8 am with two colleagues, Abhishek and Subhash.
Police from the Darshan Nagar outpost, led by Inspector Brijbhushan Pathak, detained Sarfaraz after the college gave them the note and related items. He was taken to Ayodhya Police Lines for questioning. Officers from the Special Operations Group (SOG), Special Task Force (STF), Special Branch (SB), and Intelligence Bureau (IB) are questioning him. Abhishek was also detained, while Subhash, who is from Sultanpur, left for his village early Saturday morning.
In early questioning, Sarfaraz said he could not sleep during his night shift and started watching a film about Bhagat Singh on his laptop. He said the movie showed bomb-making techniques, which he wrote down on paper before falling asleep. The cleaning staff and morning shift workers later found the note.
Investigators are looking into several parts of the case, such as how detailed the notes are, where the information came from, and why the note was written. Authorities want to know if Sarfaraz was just curious after watching the film or if there was a more serious reason. Ayodhya police have not made any official statement yet and say they will act after checking all the facts.
Finding this kind of material in a sensitive place like Ayodhya has raised concerns for security agencies. The city, which is home to the Ram Temple, is under extra watch because of its religious and historical importance. Several agencies are investigating to rule out any bigger plot or connections.
“The investigation is focused on how and why the note was made and left in the lab. College officials have worked closely with police, making sure the area and the note were secured quickly. More updates are expected after questioning and forensic tests are finished. This case shows the need for ongoing vigilance in educational institutions, especially those with labs, as authorities carefully review the student’s explanation,” sources in Uttar Pradesh said.
