Major Security Scare in Nagpur as Live Explosives Found in College Principal's Garden
In a startling discovery that sent shockwaves through the city, fifteen live gelatin sticks and fifty-eight detonators, including eight strapped with connectors, were recovered on Tuesday from the garden of a college principal's residence in Central Nagpur. The location is barely five kilometers from the RSS headquarters, heightening concerns.
Panic and Swift Response
Panic struck the city as multiple agencies rushed to the spot after the family of Professor Ujwal Lanjewar dialed the police control room in the morning. The bomb detection and disposal squad, Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) officials, the anti-terrorist squad, and other central and state agencies swiftly responded to the emergency.
Sources revealed that the twenty-five millimeter detonators, each weighing one hundred twenty-five grams, totaled two kilograms of explosives. A bomb disposal squad official emphasized, "These were live and dangerous."
Potential Catastrophe Averted
A top explosives expert told TOI that if the cache had detonated simultaneously, it could have created an impact comparable to an IED blast or artillery shells. "There could have been mayhem with a petrol pump barely fifteen meters away at Dosar Chowk and a Metro track fourteen feet above," he added, highlighting the grave risk.
Another expert noted that while gelatin detonations would have been localized, casualties were likely. "Those in the ten-meter vicinity would have suffered critical burns or even died. Nearby houses could have been wrecked, with walls and glass panes shattered," he explained.
Discovery and Investigation
The explosives were discovered by Professor Lanjewar's son, Ojas, who spotted suspicious packets in the garden. The family admitted they had mistaken the packets for harmless waste, leaving them there for nearly a week. "Stray dogs or rodents may have nibbled at the plastics, exposing the sticks," said the professor's elder son, Amog. Upon realizing the danger, the family immediately alerted the police.
The materials were safely collected and sealed by PESO and forensic experts before being shifted to a safe magazine in Kalmeshwar for analysis. A case has been registered under the Explosives Act against unidentified persons.
Security Measures and Ongoing Probe
Security has been stepped up across the city, with police commissioner Ravinder Singal visiting the spot and assuring that the source of the explosives would be identified soon. Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy stated that anti-sabotage drills were performed and no angles are being ruled out in the investigation.
Police sources indicated that an ammunition dealer has been identified, and multiple teams are verifying the movement of the ammunition and its handler. City police are mapping all dealers, distributors, retailers, and employees linked to the explosives manufacturing company to trace any missing stock or internal pilferage. Rural police are assisting with logistics and factory details.
Links to Previous Incident
The detonators and live gelatin cartridges belong to an explosives manufacturing company in Katol, where a devastating blast last month killed twenty-six workers and injured several others. PESO confirmed the stock belonged to the production batch of that factory, though current inventory there remains intact. Rural police dispatched a team to the factory for checks but found nothing amiss.
Challenges in the Investigation
Despite the Lanjewar home having CCTV, the exact garden spot where the bags were dumped is outside camera coverage, complicating efforts. Plastic bags are being examined for clues, and police have summoned neighbors with whom the family had minor disputes, along with others, for questioning at Ganeshpeth police station.
Professor Lanjewar expressed his concerns, saying, "I do not suspect anyone. But this is life threatening, and I want police to conduct a thorough probe to trace the source." A senior police officer affirmed, "We are on high alert. Searches and investigations are going on in full swing to find out who dumped these explosives and why."
The spot is close to a busy commercial area, a petrol pump, mechanic shops, and an auto stand, underscoring the potential for widespread damage had the explosives been triggered.
