Investigators recover circuit board and triggering mechanism days after gelatin sticks discovered during PM's May 10 visit to Art of Living event

Three days after gelatin sticks were found near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's travel route in Bengaluru, investigators have recovered an electronic circuit and a timer from the same location. The components, placed inside a cardboard box, suggest an attempted explosive device that may have never reached completion.

Police believe those responsible failed to properly assemble the mechanism, leaving behind critical triggering equipment. The discovery adds a concerning dimension to an incident that unfolded during the PM's high-profile visit to the city on May 10.

The sequence of events began early that morning when Bengaluru police received an anonymous phone call at around 7 AM. The caller claimed to have planted a bomb on the Prime Minister's intended route. Officers moved swiftly, apprehending a suspect from the Koramangala area within hours.

A search of the corridor where Modi's convoy was scheduled to pass—near the highway in the Kaglipura area—led to the recovery of gelatin sticks. The materials had been positioned just metres from the planned route, prompting immediate heightened security measures around the Prime Minister's movement.

The Prime Minister had travelled to Karnataka to attend the 45th Foundation Day celebration of the Art of Living Foundation at its international centre. The event marked a significant milestone for the spiritual organization, which coordinated programming attended by delegates from over 182 countries.

During his visit, Modi performed puja rituals at the foundation's temple and officially inaugurated a newly constructed Meditation Temple. He also launched initiatives focused on mental health promotion, rural development schemes, and nature conservation—anchoring the day's agenda around holistic development themes.

The programme coincided with the 70th birthday of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of Art of Living, who accompanied the PM throughout the event.

The incident has renewed scrutiny on Prime Minister Modi's security arrangements, handled by the Special Protection Group—the elite force established in 1988 following Indira Gandhi's assassination. SPG operatives maintain continuous "Diamond Formation" positioning around the PM and are equipped with advanced weaponry and ballistic protection.

This isn't the first time the PM's security has faced pressure. In 2022, Modi's convoy stalled for twenty minutes on a Punjab flyover when farmers blocked the highway nearby. Heavy rain and limited visibility forced the Prime Minister to abandon his route and return to Bathinda Airport, an incident that exposed vulnerabilities in managing unexpected ground-level threats.

Investigators are examining why the explosive device remained unassembled. Whether the perpetrators were interrupted, lacked technical capability, or encountered other obstacles remains unclear. The recovery of the timer and circuit board—days after the initial gelatin discovery—suggests the operation was rushed or poorly coordinated.

Police continue their investigation into the identity of the anonymous caller and any potential network involved in the plot. The incident has prompted a review of security protocols ahead of future high-profile visits to major cities.