Nagpur: The chilling discovery of explosive materials in the heart of Nagpur has sparked fears of a possible major conspiracy, after 58 detonators and 15 gelatin sticks were recovered from bushes near the highly sensitive Dosar Bhavan Square area on Tuesday. The shocking find, made just a few feet from a Metro station and close to a petrol pump, has raised serious concerns among security agencies about what could have been a catastrophic incident had the explosives detonated.
Experts warn that the detonators discovered at the site were extremely dangerous and highly unstable, particularly in Nagpur’s rising summer temperatures. A sudden spark, physical disturbance, or heat exposure could have triggered a blast powerful enough to shake the entire locality and endanger hundreds of lives.
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Discovery that averted disaster
The explosives were discovered outside the residence of Professor Ujjwal Lanjewar, located only a few steps away from Dosar Bhavan Square. The professor’s house has a small courtyard with several trees, which are watered daily using a pipe. According to the family, a plastic bag had been lying inside the bushes for nearly a month, but it was ignored as it appeared to be ordinary garbage.
On Tuesday around 10:45 am, Professor Lanjewar’s younger son Amogh was watering the plants when he noticed suspicious cylindrical objects protruding from the plastic bag. Curious, he immediately informed his parents. His elder brother Ojas took photographs of the objects and searched them on Google, only to realize with alarm that they resembled explosive gelatin sticks and detonators. Realising the seriousness of the situation, Professor Lanjewar immediately informed the police control room.
Within minutes, a large police team rushed to the spot. DCP Rahul Madne, ACP More and Ganeshpeth Police Station Inspector Atul Tawde arrived along with their teams. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) was also called to the scene.
The BDDS sniffer dog Veer quickly confirmed the presence of explosive material, prompting police to immediately evacuate the surrounding area. A heavy police force sealed off the locality and began carefully collecting the explosives.
What initially appeared to be just 15 suspicious sticks soon turned into a far more alarming discovery. After opening the plastic bags, officials found 58 detonators along with 15 explosive cartridges, stored separately in plastic wrappings.
The discovery triggered panic among officials, who rushed a special explosive magazine container to safely secure the recovered materials.
Highly sensitive location
The discovery has raised alarm because Dosar Bhavan Square is considered one of Nagpur’s most sensitive locations. The explosives were recovered barely 30 feet from the busy intersection and just 20 feet away from a Metro station. The area also lies close to a petrol pump, making the potential consequences of an explosion far more devastating.
The locality has also witnessed a history of communal tensions, and large religious processions, including the recent Ram Janmotsav Shobha Yatra, pass within 200 metres of the exact spot where the explosives were hidden.
Security experts say that if the detonators had exploded, the blast could have triggered a chain reaction, causing panic and possibly massive casualties in the crowded urban zone.
Suspicion of ammonium nitrate
During preliminary examination, investigators found that eight of the detonators were fitted with handling clips, indicating they were ready for use.
Sources claim the explosive sticks may not be gelatin but ammonium nitrate cartridges, a powerful chemical commonly used in mining blasts but also known to be misused in improvised explosive devices. Although ammonium nitrate stored in the open may not explode easily, experts say it can be processed and converted into powerful explosives.
Handling detonators is extremely risky, as even minor friction, heat exposure or a spark can trigger a blast.
Police sources believe the explosives were deliberately hidden in a shaded patch inside the bushes, suggesting that someone with technical knowledge of explosives carefully concealed them there.
Mystery deepens
Investigators suspect the explosives might have been dumped in haste due to fear of police checking or road blockades, but this theory has raised further questions.
Residents say the plastic bag had been lying in the same spot for nearly one month, which means whoever dumped the explosives never returned to retrieve them.
This has led to a more troubling question:
Where did such a large quantity of explosive material come from, and for what purpose?
Typically, detonators and ammonium nitrate cartridges are used in mining operations, and their purchase, storage and use are strictly regulated. Only licensed and trained agencies are allowed to handle such materials.
Police are now trying to identify which companies supplied the explosives and to whom they were officially issued.
Nagpur Police have launched a detailed probe, and teams from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have also joined the investigation.
Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal and DIG Rajendra Dabhade personally visited the spot and inspected the recovered explosives.
A case has been registered under the Explosives Act, and investigators are now examining records from SBL Energy Explosives Company, which is believed to have manufactured the material.
Authorities have also sought assistance from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO), the national regulator responsible for monitoring explosive materials.
Dangerous loophole
The incident has once again exposed a serious loophole in India’s explosive tracking system.
While PESO has introduced barcoding for tracking explosives from production to final use, the system does not cover conventional detonators, because their sensitive chemical components make barcoding difficult.
This loophole means detonators can potentially be diverted or stolen without leaving a trace.
Officials examining the seized cache confirmed that none of the detonators recovered in Nagpur carried barcodes, making it extremely difficult to trace their origin or intended destination.
A disaster narrowly averted
Security experts say the discovery may have prevented a potential disaster in one of Nagpur’s busiest and most sensitive areas.
With detonators lying exposed for weeks in scorching temperatures near a petrol pump and a crowded junction, the situation could have easily spiraled into a devastating explosion capable of causing mass casualties.
