Major Security Scare: Explosives Found Near School Campus
A major security scare unfolded in Uttarakhand's Almora district after over 160 gelatin sticks were discovered concealed in bushes near a school. The alarming find was reported on November 21, sending local authorities into a swift response mode.
How the Discovery Unfolded
The incident came to light when Subhash Singh, the acting principal of the Government Higher Secondary School in Dabhra, located in the Salt area, spotted several suspicious parcels in the vegetation near the school campus. Showing immense presence of mind, he immediately alerted the local police.
Upon receiving the report, police personnel rushed to the scene and swiftly secured the entire area to ensure public safety. Given the potential danger, specialized bomb disposal and dog squads from the neighbouring Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts were summoned to conduct a thorough and meticulous search of the location.
The Recovery Operation and Official Statements
During the search, police reports indicate that a few packets of the explosives were first retrieved from one spot adjacent to the school. Subsequently, numerous additional packets were found approximately 15 to 20 feet away. In a coordinated effort, the teams successfully recovered a total of 161 cylindrical gelatin sticks from the two sites.
Almora Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Devendra Pincha addressed the media, stating that initial enquiries have dismissed any potential terrorist involvement. He explained that gelatin sticks are routinely used by contractors for fracturing stone and rock formations during road construction.
Pincha elaborated on the probable cause, saying, "The road was constructed at this location a few years ago, and the contractor may have left the gelatin sticks in the bushes." He confirmed that police are conducting thorough enquiries with local contractors and construction crews, but stressed that a definitive conclusion will only be reached after a full and detailed investigation is complete.
Aftermath and Legal Action
Following the recovery, the bomb disposal team transported all the packets to a secure location where they were officially sealed. The entire operation was documented on video, and forensic evidence was collected to aid the investigation.
In response to the serious lapse, the police have filed a case against unidentified individuals under the Section 4(a) of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, and Section 288 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Separate Arms Haul in Odisha
In a separate and unrelated incident, a large cache of explosives and weapons, suspected to have been hidden by Maoists, was recovered by security forces from a cave in Odisha's Malkangiri district on November 16. The seizure, made during a combing operation in the Dulagundi forest, included an improvised directional mine, a pistol, 110 gelatin sticks, electronic devices, and a substantial quantity of live ammunition.
