Bengaluru: Acting swiftly on a complaint received through police helpline 112, Hulimavu cops raided an under-construction building in Akshayanagar, southeast Bengaluru, and seized a large quantity of explosives, including gelatin sticks and live detonators.The complainant, ES Ramabhat, a retired bank employee and resident of 3rd Main, Akshayanagar, said he was alarmed after hearing a loud explosion around 12pm Tuesday, which caused nearby buildings to shake. Aware that construction work was under way at adjacent sites, Ramabhat learned that explosives were used at the location. He immediately alerted police, citing disturbance and possible damage to life and property.
When Hoysala police rushed to the spot, labourers working at the site, including an excavator operator and a tractor driver, fled the premises, leaving behind machinery, vehicles and explosive materials.Ramabhat told police construction work was on for the past three months and that explosives were used frequently to break underground boulders. Police registered a case under Explosive Substances Act, Explosives Act and BNS Sections of 286 (negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substances) and 324 (mischief), against the site owner and contractor.The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) recovered 4 bags of stone-crusher powder weighing 20kg each, 20 gelatin sticks and 30 live detonator cables. The explosives were seized, along with an excavator, a tractor and a digging machine.The land reportedly belongs to Ranjitha, a private firm employee currently residing in a rented house in Koramangala. She signed a contract with one Pradeep to construct a residential building on the site. Ranjitha told police she was unaware that explosives were used for construction work, stating that the contractor informed her he would use a compressor instead.“We are trying to trace the contractor to ascertain the source of the explosives and determine whether they were procured legally,” a senior police officer said.
