6 Bengaluru cops suspended over gelatin sticks found during PM Modi's visit
Synopsis
Two gelatin sticks were found barely 90 minutes before PM Modi's programme near Bengaluru's Art of Living Ashram — and now six policemen are suspended for it. The incident has exposed a significant gap in one of India's most tightly managed security protocols, and the political blame game between BJP and the Congress-led Karnataka government is only intensifying.
Key Takeaways
Six policemen were suspended on 24 May 2025 by the SP, Bengaluru South , pending a departmental inquiry.
Two gelatin sticks were recovered near the Art of Living Ashram, Kaggalipura-Tataguni , roughly 1.5 hours before PM Modi's scheduled programme on 10 May .
The packet was found 20–25 feet from the roadside, nearly 1 km from the NICE Road junction — not on the PM's exact route, according to DIG Girish .
Bengaluru City Police and Ramanagara Police are jointly investigating who placed the explosive material at the location.
BJP Karnataka president B.Y.
Vijayendra called the incident an 'unpardonable failure' of the Congress -led state government.
Six policemen were suspended on Sunday, 24 May in connection with the recovery of two gelatin sticks on the outskirts of Bengaluru during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the city on 10 May. The suspension order was issued by the Superintendent of Police (SP), Bengaluru South, pending the outcome of a departmental inquiry.
How the Gelatin Sticks Were Found
A constable on duty first spotted a suspicious packet lying near a compound wall, roughly 20 to 25 feet from the roadside and nearly one kilometre from the NICE Road junction in the Kaggalipura-Tataguni area, close to the Art of Living Ashram. The discovery was made approximately one-and-a-half hours before the Prime Minister's scheduled programme in the area.
Upon inspection, the packet was confirmed to contain two gelatin sticks. Security personnel immediately cordoned off the location, removed the explosive material, and initiated precautionary protocols to prevent any untoward incident.
Inquiry and Security Response
Bengaluru City Police and Ramanagara Police jointly launched an investigation following the recovery. Central Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Girish confirmed that an intensive probe was underway to establish how the gelatin sticks reached the spot and who had placed them there.
'The police have done a good job. The Anti-Sabotage Team and a local police constable found the gelatin sticks. They were not found on the exact road used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They were found away from the road, beyond the footpath. The investigation will reveal further details. At present, we are trying to ascertain who threw them at that location,' DIG Girish said.
The six suspended policemen will remain off duty until the departmental inquiry is concluded. Further details regarding the precise circumstances of the discovery are yet to emerge, according to officials.
Political Fallout
The incident triggered sharp political reactions. Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra alleged the discovery reflected a serious lapse in security arrangements on the route designated for the Prime Minister's movement. In a social media post, Vijayendra described the incident as an 'unpardonable failure' on the part of the Congress-led state government, which is constitutionally responsible for law and order in Karnataka.
He further alleged that public safety had deteriorated in the state, particularly in Bengaluru, under the current dispensation.
What Happens Next
The departmental inquiry against the six suspended officers is ongoing, with authorities working to determine whether the security breach involved negligence or a more deliberate failure. The outcome of the joint investigation by Bengaluru City Police and Ramanagara Police is expected to shape both accountability measures and any potential criminal proceedings.
Point of View
But it also raises an uncomfortable question: how did explosive material surface within the security perimeter of a Prime Ministerial visit despite layers of advance checks? DIG Girish's reassurance that the sticks were 'not on the exact road' is technically accurate but sidesteps the core concern — any breach within a kilometre of a PM's route is a systemic failure, not a local one. The BJP's pivot to attacking the Congress-led state government is predictable, yet it does not absolve the central security apparatus, which runs parallel checks on PM routes. The real accountability test is whether the inquiry stops at six constables or climbs higher.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were six Bengaluru policemen suspended?
The six policemen were suspended in connection with the recovery of two gelatin sticks on the outskirts of Bengaluru during PM Modi's visit on 10 May 2025. The SP, Bengaluru South, issued the suspension order on 24 May, pending the outcome of a departmental inquiry into the security lapse.
Where exactly were the gelatin sticks found in Bengaluru?
The gelatin sticks were found near the Art of Living Ashram in the Kaggalipura-Tataguni area, roughly 20 to 25 feet from the roadside and nearly one kilometre from the NICE Road junction. According to DIG Girish, the location was away from the road actually used by PM Modi.
Who discovered the gelatin sticks and when?
A constable deployed on security duty spotted a suspicious packet near a compound wall approximately one-and-a-half hours before PM Modi's scheduled programme on 10 May. The Anti-Sabotage Team and the constable jointly confirmed the packet contained two gelatin sticks.
What is the political reaction to the Bengaluru gelatin sticks incident?
Karnataka BJP president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra termed the discovery an 'unpardonable failure' of the Congress-led state government, alleging a serious lapse in security arrangements. He claimed that law and order had deteriorated in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru, under the current government.
What happens to the suspended policemen now?
The six suspended policemen will remain off duty until the departmental inquiry is completed. Bengaluru City Police and Ramanagara Police are also jointly investigating the matter to determine who placed the gelatin sticks at the location and how they bypassed security checks.
