BAGESHWAR: A major security alert was sounded in Almora district after 161 gelignite sticks, over 20 kg of highly explosive material, were recovered from bushes near two schools in the Salt area.
As the recovery came days after nearly 2,900 kg of explosive materials allegedly part of the terror plot behind the blast near Delhi's Red Fort were seized in Haryana, district authorities launched a massive operation with dog squads and forensic teams combing the area.
Police said the gelignite sticks were first spotted by school children on Thursday when they went into the bushes to look for their cricket ball and found the explosives stacked there.
After school authorities alerted police, a team from Bhikiyasain carried out the recovery on Friday. An FIR was registered against unknown persons under section 4(A) of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, and BNS section 288 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance).
"Samples have been collected, and a detailed probe is underway to identify who brought the gelatin rods and for what purpose," Almora SSP Devendra Pincha told TOI. He added that the material is commonly used for stone-breaking in road construction, though police were "investigating all angles."
Dabhra village head Arjun Singh said the location suggested the material may have been left behind by workers involved in a PMGSY road project completed in the village last year. "The workers' camp was just 30m from where the explosives were found. It is possible the material was brought for breaking hard rock and later abandoned after becoming unusable," he told TOI.
On Saturday morning, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel and additional police units also joined the operation. Teams from the bomb disposal unit, local intelligence unit (LIU) and the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) carried out a combing operation in the forested area, bushes, school campus and nearby footpaths to ensure no additional material remained.
Forensic experts were conducting a second round of testing on Sat to trace the source and nature of the gelatin sticks. Investigators had mapped the spot and collected soil samples and other evidence from multiple locations.
SSP Pincha said the explosives will be disposed of safely after court approval.
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