Children Playing Discover Suspicious Packets
In a startling discovery that raised serious security concerns, 161 packets of suspected explosive material were found near a school in Uttarakhand's Almora district. The incident came to light on Thursday when children playing near the Government Inter College in Dabra spotted a suspicious substance scattered in the bushes.
The school principal promptly alerted the local police, triggering an immediate response. A police team swiftly arrived at the location and, recognizing the potential danger, cordoned off the area with rope to ensure public safety.
Police and Bomb Squads Launch Major Operation
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Devendra Pincha addressed the media on Friday, stating that the recovered items appeared to be gelatin sticks, commonly used in road construction and stone blasting operations. He confirmed that an investigation has been initiated to determine how the explosives ended up near the school premises.
To handle the situation professionally, authorities called in specialized teams. On Friday, the bomb disposal squad and a dog squad were dispatched from Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts. The search dogs, named Molly and Rambo, along with technical equipment, were used to thoroughly comb the area.
This meticulous search led to a significant find. Approximately 15-20 feet away from the initial location, a large number of additional cylindrical plastic packets were recovered. All the seized packets were carefully collected, placed in a white plastic sack, and sealed as samples for further analysis.
Formal Case Registered, Probe Underway
An First Information Report (FIR) has been officially registered at the police station based on the complaint of Assistant Sub-inspector Diwan Singh Bisht. The case has been filed against unknown persons under section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, and BNS section 288, which deals with negligent conduct concerning explosive substances.
The FIR details that the packets were inscribed with "901 emulsion explosives 125 gm by SBL Energy Limited". According to the memo from the bomb disposal squad, the recovered gelatin sticks remain potentially hazardous until they are properly detonated or neutralized.
SSP Pincha has appealed to the public to refrain from spreading or believing rumors regarding the incident. A dedicated police team is conducting a detailed investigation to uncover who brought the explosive sticks to the location and for what purpose.
