Uttarakhand Police have recovered 161 gelatin sticks weighing over 20 kg from dense bushes in the Sult area of Almora district, triggering a major security investigation. The explosives were found close to the Government Higher Secondary School in Dabra village, raising serious concerns about the intended purpose behind their presence. The discovery comes just days after authorities seized nearly 3,000 kg of explosives linked to the Delhi blast case in Haryana.
The alert was raised by school principal Subhash Singh, who spotted suspicious packets near the campus and immediately informed the police. Teams reached the site without delay, cordoned off the area, and called in bomb disposal experts and dog squads from Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital.
During an extensive search, the dog squad detected multiple packets of gelatin sticks hidden in the bushes. Additional packets were found roughly 20 feet away, suggesting they had been deliberately scattered or concealed.
The bomb disposal unit collected and sealed all the explosive materials before transporting them to a secure facility.
“A total of 161 gelatin sticks were recovered from shrubs near a school in Dabra village. Police responded swiftly, and the bomb squad carried out a detailed examination. Searches were also conducted in surrounding areas,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Devendra Pincha.
He further noted that gelatin sticks are commonly used for blasting operations in mining and construction, but the circumstances surrounding their recovery near a school are highly suspicious. Investigators are now looking into how the explosives reached the area and whether there is any larger threat.
Police have registered a case against unidentified individuals under Section 4(a) of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, and Section 288 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). Four special investigation teams have been formed to probe the matter further.
