How gelatin sticks ended up near PM Narendra Modi convoy route is now Bengaluru police’s biggest puzzle

BENGALURU: A security scare unfolded on the outskirts of the city Sunday morning, hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled along Kanakapura Road to visit the Art of Living Foundation campus.

Two gelatin sticks were found near Kuppareddy Kere, close to Thathaguni Estate on the route used by the PM's convoy, prompting an immediate response from security and anti-sabotage teams already deployed for the high-profile visit.

Police said the explosives were discovered roughly 20-25 feet away from the main road near a compound wall on National Highway 948, about 2km from the AOL campus. The discovery came around one-and-a-half hours before Modi's convoy was scheduled to pass.

The packet containing the gelatin sticks was noticed by a police constable deployed on special duty. Officials said the constable found a suspicious cover lying near the roadside and, upon checking it, discovered the explosives before immediately alerting senior officers.

Anti-sabotage teams rushed to the spot and seized the gelatin sticks. A case has been registered under the Explosives Act at the Kaggalipura police station.

DIG (Central) S Girish said special teams were formed to investigate the incident and trace those responsible for leaving the explosives near the convoy route.

"We are investigating who threw the gelatin sticks on the roadside," Girish said, while also commending the constable whose alertness led to the discovery.

Police officers said there was no immediate danger of an explosion because no detonator was found along with the gelatin sticks. Investigators are examining whether the material was intentionally placed to create panic or draw attention during the PM's visit.

"There was no possibility of an explosion as no detonator was found. We suspect someone who has issues with the Art of Living may have dropped the gelatin sticks at the spot to create panic. However, the investigation is on from all possible angles," a police officer said.

Bengaluru South superintendent of police R Srinivas Gowda said the packet was found a kilometre from the NICE Road junction between 9.45am and 10am.

"A constable, during area domination duty, found a packet around 20-25 feet away from the road near a compound. The packet contained two gelatin sticks. We need to investigate further to ascertain more details," he said.

Hoax call
Even as police teams investigated the gelatin sticks, another security concern emerged on the day when Bengaluru city police received a threat call claiming explosions would be carried out at HAL Airport and the AOI campus.

Police later detained a 42-year-old man identified as Lohith in connection with the hoax call. Lohith, a resident of Koramangala 8th Block and a former IT employee who is currently unemployed, was apprehended at a bus stand on Bannerghatta Road by a joint team of Koramangala and Suddaguntepalya police.

Officials said the threat call was made around 7.30 am to the police control room. The information was immediately relayed to local police stations, triggering a rapid search operation.

A senior police officer said preliminary inquiry suggested Lohith may be mentally disturbed. However, investigators believe he has no connection to the gelatin sticks found near the convoy route.

A separate case has been registered at Koramangala police station, and further investigation is under way.