Bengaluru : Six police personnel have been suspended in connection with the recovery of gelatin sticks near the route of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bengaluru earlier this month, officials said on Sunday. The gelatin sticks were discovered during routine security sanitisation and checking operations conducted ahead of PM Modi’s arrival.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Central Range), Bengaluru, said two gelatin sticks were found lying near a footpath on the outskirts of Bengaluru, around three kilometres away from the main event venue that the Prime Minister was scheduled to visit. Before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival, during the checking, two gelatin sticks were found on the side of the footpath, nearly 3 kms away from the main venue where PM Modi was scheduled to arrive. Further investigation is underway, the DIG said.
Police have launched a detailed probe to determine how the explosive material ended up near the Prime Minister’s route and whether there was any deliberate attempt to compromise security arrangements. The suspensions come days after at least two gelatin sticks were recovered near an event venue ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on the outskirts of Bengaluru on May 10, triggering a major security scare and an intensive police probe.
According to police, the gelatin sticks were discovered during routine security sanitisation and checks conducted before PM Modi’s arrival. Before PM’s arrival, during checking, two gelatin sticks were found on the side of a footpath, nearly 3 kms away from the main venue where PM Modi was scheduled to arrive, police said. Following the recovery, security agencies immediately cordoned off the area, while bomb disposal and forensic teams were rushed to the spot for examination.
Following the incident, Karnataka BJP president and MLA BY Vijayendra had sharply criticised the Congress government in the state, calling the recovery of gelatin sticks an “unpardonable and grave failure”. In a post on X on May 10, Vijayendra alleged that law and order had “completely collapsed” in Karnataka under the Congress government.