Chaotic scenes at blast site, Ashok terms it terror act
Updated
Bangalore, Apr 17 (IANS): Sixteen people were injured Wednesday in a bomb blast, near the ruling BJP's office in this tech hub, which Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok said was an act of terror.
"A bomb-like material on a motorbike exploded around 10.30 a.m. injuring 16 people, including 11 policemen, near the BJP office at Malleswaram in north-west Bangalore," state Director-General of Police (DGP) Lalrokhuma Pachau told reporters here.
Rushing to the blast spot, Ashok said the fact that it (explosion) occurred so near to the BJP office clearly indicated that the terrorists wanted to cause maximum damage to its leaders and cadres, besides spreading panic ahead of the state legislative assembly elections May 5.
"As a lot of political activity has been going on since the poll schedule was announced last month, hundreds of our cadres and leaders have been visiting the party office daily and hence they were the target of this terror attack," Ashok told reporters.
Among the five civilians injured, three were women and two teenagers.
"The injuries are not so serious and no one is in critical condition. They are being treated in a nearby (state-run) hospital," Pachau asserted.
The motorcycle was parked between two cars. The blast ripped through the motorcycle and gutted both the vehicles parked near it. There was a loud explosion that rattled doors and windows of surrounding houses.
Police cordoned off the entire blast area for study and tests by the state bomb squad, forensic experts and the state-run National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The injured policemen were seated in a mini bus parked nearby as they were on security duty for the upcoming election.
"We do not know the type of bomb that was used. The matter is under investigation. NIA and forensic experts are studying the three charred vehicles and other burnt-out material to find what sort of bomb or materials were used to trigger the blast," Pachau said.
Appealing to people across the state to remain calm and maintain peace, Ashok said there was no cause for panic and no rumours should be allowed to spread.
"The culprits will be punished. Special teams are being set up to find out who was behind this cowardly act and why the attacks were planned when elections are due," Ashok observed.
Coincidentally, a similar blast took place exactly three years ago, on April 17, 2010, outside the Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium in the city centre before an IPL (Indian Premier League) T-20 match.
"The pattern appears to be same. Cause panic and maximum damage to innocent people and their property," Ashok said.
Bangalore police commissioner R. Auradkar had earlier told reporters that the explosion appeared to have been caused by the bursting of a liquefied petroleum gas cylinder in one of the parked vehicles.
Union minister of state for home R.P.N. Singh appealed to the people not to politicise the Bangalore blasts, even as Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed kicked up a storm on Twitter, claiming that the blasts would aid the BJP in the May 5 assembly polls.
BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said Shakeel's remarks were unbecoming of a senior leader, and asserted that politics should be kept out of terror strikes.
Home Minister Shushilkumar Shinde, who was in Kolkata, said a probe had been ordered into the blast.
Chaotic scenes at blast site, vehicles in flames
Bangalore, Apr 17 (PTI): A loud bang and the next moment three cars went up in flames and a bike blown to smithereens, recounted witnesses to a terror strike outside the BJP office here buzzing with activity ahead of the May 5 Assembly polls.
"All of us were sitting in a police van in front of which the cars and a motorbike were parked. I heard a deafening sound and when I opened my eyes I saw all the three vehicles in flames and the bike blown to smithereens," 50-year-old Meerannavar told PTI.
"Our van was fully damaged, the glass panes shattered, with splinters hitting us. The impact of the blast was so much that the seats sprang up and I almost hit the roof. I cannot hear through my left ear now," said the policeman, undergoing treatment at the hospital.
He was among the injured police personnel from the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP).
Meerannavar has glass splinters embedded in his head which would have to be removed, according to the doctors.
58-year-old Kunjappa, a KSRP Sub Inspector, said, "The sound was such, I felt my head would split into two. While I saw flames leaping from the vehicles, the bike broke into pieces." Kunjappa was also having hearing problem and suffered injuries all over his body.
"My head still feels heavy and is reeling. It was a sound which I will never like to hear again. The vehicles in front of our van were burning while our van was badly damaged with glass splinters from the broken window panes flying all over. I feel terrible," said Vishveshwaraiah (50), looking badly shaken after the incident.
Shinde orders probe into Bangalore blast
Kolkata, Apr 17 (IANS): Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Wednesday said a probe would reveal whether the blast near the BJP office in Bangalore was a terror act.
"I have interacted with the government of Karnataka and also the police department. We have ordered an inquiry and will let the country know if it was a terror act," Shinde told media persons here.
Shinde is in the city to chair a meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council.
Sixteen people were injured, two of them seriously, in an explosion in a congested locality near the office of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Karnataka capital.
Bangalore blast will help BJP in election: Congress
The explosion near Karnataka's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office will help the party in next month's assembly elections, Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad said Wednesday.
"If the blast near BJP's office in Banglore is a terror attack, it will certainly help the BJP politically on the eve of election," Ahmad said on Twitter. The election will be held May 5.
His remarks were criticised by the BJP as unwarranted and uncalled for.
"Such remarks are uncalled for and should not have come from a senior Congress leader. The party (Congress) has already accepted defeat in Karnataka," said BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi.
Sixteen people were injured, two of them seriously, in the explosion in crowded residential locality of Malleshwaram in north Bangalore.
Don't politicise Bangalore blast: R.P.N. Singh
The Congress Wednesday said it never plays politics in dealing with terrorism and urged all parties not to politicise the issue after an explosion injured 16 people near the office of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bangalore.
Karnataka will vote for a new assembly May 5.
"The Congress stand is clear. It does not do any politics in dealing with terrorism. I urge all parties to rise above politics," union Minister of State for Home Affairs R.P.N. Singh told reporters.
Sixteen people were injured, two of them seriously, in an explosion in a congested neighbourhood near the office of the BJP here.
Stating that the National Investigation Agency team is already in Bangalore and Karnataka police officials are looking at all possibilities, the minister said: "We're waiting for the full report. Can't say anything till we get full details."
"Terrorism is a world phenomenon and all countries have to fight it united. We need to be vigilant and help each other," he said.
Initial Report
Bangalore: Blast near BJP office, several including policemen injured
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Apr 17: Several persons including eight policemen were injured in a blast near a temple close to the BJP office in Malleshwaram here on Wednesday April 17.
Though there were reports that it was a cyinder blast in a car parked nearby, police sources have now said that it was a bomb blast and that the explosives were placed on a motorbike.
Five civilians were also injured, two of them seriously. One of the injured jawans, identified as Ganesh Rao, suffered serious injuries. All the injured were rushed to KC General Hospital, Malleshwaram. TV channels claimed that altogether 13 persons were injured, including two teenage girls.
Several houses in the locality also were damaged in the incident. Although initial reports suggested that a gas cylinder had exploded, subsequently they have suspected it to be a bomb blast.
Three cars were thereafter seen covered in blaze. Five motor bikes and a KSRP vehicles were also damaged.
The fire brigade personnel have rushed to the spot and begun the task of dousing the fire. Police personnel have also been dispatched to the scene of the accident.
There were no reports of damage to the party office.