Sub-inspector among 6 cops suspended over explosives on PM Modi convoy route in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Six police officers, including a sub-inspector, have been suspended for security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Art of Living (AOL) Foundation in the Karnataka capital on May 10. The action comes nearly two weeks after explosives were found near Kuppareddy Kere, around 2 km from the AOL centre, along the PM's route.

Bengaluru South SP R Sinivas Gowda, who ordered the suspensions, did not reveal their names.

The explosives, including two gelatin sticks, matchsticks, camphor, batteries, wires, a real-time clock and an LCD display, were packed in a carton box found near the compound wall of a private property, around 25 feet away from the main road.





A constable had found the suspicious box one-and-a-half hours before the Prime Minister's convoy passed through the route.

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Police are yet to make a breakthrough in the case.

Police sources had initially said only two gelatin sticks and a matchbox were found in the carton box. But after a few days, when the NIA collected details, the other components in the box came to light.

Initially, teams were sent to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, as well as neighbouring districts in Karnataka. NIA and IB sleuths also visited the spot and collected details.

The forensic lab report submitted to police noted there was no threat from the explosives found in the carton box, saying the gelatin sticks were around three years old, the timer was defunct and there was no detonator in the box.

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