Waste Picker's Discovery Leads to Arrest
In a shocking incident that exposed serious safety lapses, the Pune City Police arrested a contractor and booked a construction site owner after a woman waste picker discovered bags containing gelatin sticks and detonators on a public roadside in the Tingre Nagar area.
The alarming discovery occurred on Monday morning when the police control room received a call about suspicious bags marked with "explosive substance" containing numerous sticks and wires. The incident prompted immediate action from authorities concerned about public safety.
Police Investigation Reveals Construction Site Connection
According to Mangesh Hande, Inspector in charge of Vishrantwadi police station, the initial investigation clearly indicated that the explosive materials were brought for use at a construction site located near where they were found. The bags were discovered in Lane No. 8 of Tingre Nagar area, positioned next to a lodge just outside the gate of a construction site.
The police identified the arrested individual as Rahul Sudam Waje, 38, who had undertaken contract work in the area. Along with Waje, the police also booked Kisan Dnyandeo Dandavate, a resident of Malthan in Shirur who owns the construction site.
Both individuals face serious charges under provisions of the Explosives Act along with multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for their negligent handling of dangerous materials.
Dangerous Cache Secured by Bomb Squad
When the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) team arrived at the scene and carefully inspected the bags, they made a startling discovery. The bags contained 138 gelatin sticks and 135 detonator wires - a significant quantity of explosives that posed serious risk to public safety when left unattended in a residential area.
Inspector Hande clarified that while the company undertaking the construction work possessed the requisite permit for possession of explosives, they faced charges for negligent conduct and reckless handling of the dangerous substances. "They have been booked for negligent conduct and reckless handling of the explosive substance, and endangering the lives and personal safety of people," Hande stated.
The bomb squad successfully secured all the gelatin sticks and detonators, eliminating the immediate threat to public safety. Police officials confirmed that further investigation is ongoing in the case to determine the complete circumstances surrounding the irresponsible placement of explosives in a public area.
This incident highlights the critical importance of proper handling and storage procedures for explosive materials, especially in urban areas where public safety must remain the highest priority.
