Security scare in Bengaluru ahead of PM Modi visit
Karnataka Police and the central security agencies prevented a major security scare after they recovered two Gelatin sticks from a roadside during routine anti- sabotage drill ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on Sunday. Immediate heightened security measures were put in place and a full-scale police investigation into the source and intent behind the explosives was launched.
Meanwhile, the police have detained one person for questioning. Sources indicated that the investigating agencies are now focused on determining the purpose behind the storage of the gelatin sticks in the area and ascertaining whether any other individuals or networks were involved.
The discovery occurred near Tataguni in the Kaggalipura police station limits in Bengaluru, close to a route associated with the Prime Minister’s movement schedule. Police officials confirmed that the gelatin sticks were found on the side of a footpath, approximately three kilometres away from the main venue where the Prime Minister was scheduled to arrive.
Sources said, the gelatin sticks were located near the Agara Lake area in Tataguni on the city outskirts, a relatively less crowded stretch that forms part of the approach roads leading towards the Art of Living Centre. Forensic analysis of the materials is underway to trace their origin, while teams are also reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas and speaking with local residents.
Prime Minister Modi was in Bengaluru to commemorate the 45th foundation day of the Art of Living Centre located on Kanakapura Road near Kaggalipura. The event, which drew considerable attention, saw the deployment of multi-layered security arrangements across the city, particularly in the southern outskirts. The recovery of the explosive materials, however, heightened the alert level among various security agencies. A statement from the police issued shortly after the recovery of explosive material, detailed the sequence of events. “On Sunday morning, before the PM’s arrival, during the checking, two gelatine sticks were found on the side of a footpath, nearly three kilometres away from the main venue where PM Modi was scheduled to arrive. Further investigation is on,” it said.
Although the items were found some distance from the actual event venue, their proximity to the Prime Minister’s route necessitated an urgent escalation of security protocols across the city, sources said. Police personnel, along with bomb disposal squads and forensic experts, rushed to the spot for a detailed examination of the explosive materials. The area was cordoned off and thorough checks were carried out to ensure no additional threats existed in the vicinity.
Agencies are trying to determine how the explosives reached the roadside location and if they were deliberately placed or accidentally discarded. Security agencies have described the incident as a matter of serious concern, given the high-profile nature of the Prime Minister’s visit. Gelatin sticks, commonly used in controlled industrial and mining operations, are classified as explosives and their unauthorised possession or presence near sensitive locations raises immediate red flags.
Karnataka Police and central agencies, are monitoring the investigation, with emphasis on both the immediate recovery and the broader intelligence angle to rule out any larger conspiracy. Authorities have appealed to the public for any information that could assist in the ongoing probe. As of now, no further details on the identity of the detained individual or the exact composition of the recovered materials have been made public, citing the sensitivity of the investigation.
The Prime Minister’s programme at the Art of Living Centre proceeded as scheduled amid the tightened security blanket. Officials maintained that the event was conducted without any disruption, reflecting the effectiveness of the rapid response mechanism.
Police sources reiterated that the matter is being investigated with utmost seriousness and that every possible lead is being pursued to establish the full facts.
The incident has once again highlighted the constant vigilance required in securing high-value targets in urban and semi-urban settings across the country.
