Two people were injured and one killed in a low intensity IED blast in the busy Church Street of Bangalore's MG Road. It was not immediately clear what had caused the low-intensity explosion outside a restaurant in a commercial part of the city. Following this, Mumbai and Delhi have also been placed on high alert.
"There has been an explosion outside a popular restaurant," Prashant Rao, a police officer in the emergency control room said.
According to reports, the minor blast took place in front of Coconut Grove, a restaurant on Church Street. The police has cordoned off the entire area; the bomb disposal squad and the forensic team is investigating the explosion spot.
According to reports, a 38 year old woman, Bhavani has succumbed to head injuries, while two others, namely, Sandeep and Karthik, have been admitted to the hospital for fractures.
Sadananda Gowda, Union Law Minister, visited the area. "I was informed about the blast at around 8.30 pm. I have discussed with the police officials to take proper measures ahead of New Year's Eve to avoid such incidents. I have asked them to deploy more policemen at highly crowded areas on this occasion. It is very unfortunate that this incident has taken place. The Chief Minister has been briefed about the situation and proper action will be taken soon. Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be flying down to Bangalore immediately."
Meanwhile Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted:
Reports suggest that two people have been called in for interrogation. Cops are also probing social media threat angle.
City police commissioner MN Reddi said no one has claimed responsibility for the blast. Asked if there was any threat perception to the city, Reddi said, "there has been threat perception in general, in view of the fact that there are festivities, in view of the fact that New Year's eve coming..."
He said there has been "some amount" of threat perception but that has been generic and there has been an alert in general. The country's information technology hub was hit by bomb blasts in 2008, 2010 and 2013.
In serial blasts caused by IED at nine places in 2008, two persons were killed and 20 others injured. Two bombs exploded outside the cricket stadium hours before an IPL match, leaving 15 persons injured in 2010. A third bomb was defused.
In 2013, a bomb blast outside the state BJP headquarters in the crowded Malleshwaram area just ahead of the Assembly polls had left 16 persons injured.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Sunday night, Union Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju said the situation is under control, but it was too early to say who was responsible for the explosion.
"Situation in Bangalore is fully under control. We are taking all possible steps," he said. When asked who could be responsible for the explosion outside a restaurant in the IT city, Rijiju said it was too early to say anything as investigation has just started.
"We are looking into all possible angles," he said. The Minister said the central government would provide whatever help the Karnataka government seeks from it to deal with the situation.
On any alert being sounded, Rijiju said there is a general alert for all over the country against possible terror attacks but specific alert for any particular place or city is given only on the basis of specific inputs. The Minister said the incident does not look like a big one as it was just a low intensity blast.
Meanwhile, official sources said a central team comprising investigators and explosive experts is expected to visit Bangalore on Sunday to assist the police in the blast probe.
(With agency inputs)
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