Police in Vijayawada seized 46 gelatin sticks weighing nearly 5 kg and 50 electronic detonators at Pandit Nehru Bus Station after a passenger discovered the explosives inside a bag he had mistakenly picked up following a bus journey from Narasaraopet. The recovery was made at around 1 am, and Krishnalanka police registered a case to trace the bag's owner and determine where the explosives came from and where they were being taken.
The passenger, identified as Asif Ali, a native of Uttar Pradesh, had travelled from Narasaraopet to Vijayawada. After reaching the city, he realised that the bag in his possession was not his. He opened it to identify its owner, found the gelatin sticks and electronic detonators, and alerted police personnel at the bus station outpost. Police then secured the bag and its contents.
Police examine CCTV and passenger records
Investigators are checking CCTV footage and the details of passengers who travelled on the bus to identify the person whose bag contained the explosives. Police are also examining the origin of the material, its intended destination and whether it was being transported legally.
Initial police information indicates that the gelatin sticks may have been intended for stone quarry blasting. Officers have treated that as a preliminary assessment while the investigation continues. Current reliable reports have not established a terror connection to the recovery, making an explosives or security scare a more accurate description than a confirmed terror alert.
Police have asked passengers and members of the public to report suspicious or unattended baggage to authorities. The investigation remains focused on identifying the owner of the explosives and establishing how the material came to be transported on the bus.