Zeenews Bureau
Bangalore, July 25: Terror hit Bangalore Friday afternoon as nine low intensity blasts ripped through different parts of the IT city. Majority of explosions took place within a span of half an hour, starting at 1:45 pm. The sites that were targetted were Madiwala, Adugodi area, Koramangla, Hosur Road, Nayandahalli and Shivaji Nagar on Mysore Road and Langford Town. There were unconfirmed reports that the last two blasts took place in the evening around 5.30 pm near Gopalan Mall also on Mysore Road and at north Bangalore near a flyover.
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Home Minister Shivraj Patil said in New Delhi two
persons were killed and 12 injured in the blasts which the
state police and the government were fighting shy of calling
it a terror attack. They called the explosions an attempt
by anti-national and anti-social elements to create panic and
disrupt peace.
Karnataka DGP Sri Kumar has also warned that there may be another 12 live bombs planted in others parts of the city. The Police is trying to trace them so that the bomb disposal squad can defuse the explosives.
All the sites are located in the southern part of the city, with some hosting several upmarket malls. These are fairly congested with Madiwala being one of the biggest markets of the city. The blast here took place at the bus stand.
The strech from Brigade Road to the Hosur Road National Highway leading to Chennai bore the brunt in today's attack.
Speaking to the media, Police Commissioner Shankar Bidri said that one woman was killed in Madiwala, while there have been injuries in the other blasts. There are reports of yet another person having succumbed to his injuries.
All the wounded have been rushed to nearby hospitals for medical aid. Some have been admitted to St John’s and Mallya hospitals.
Elaborating on the modus operandi, the Police Commissioner said that crude bombs with timer devices were used. Iron bolts had been fixed to them and each explosion had the intensity of 1-2 hand grenades.
The blasts are thought to be of low-intensity using gelatin sticks. Traces of ammonium nitrate has also been found.
One blast took place near tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi’s house. However, barring shattering some window panes, there was no other major damage.
Forensic experts and bomb disposal squads have reached the targetted sites.
The authorities have cordoned off the entire locality and sniffer dogs are being used for further clues. Mobile networks in certain areas have jammed and major artery roads have clogged due people rushing back home.
Bidri said that the incident looked pre-planned. He also appealed to Bangaloreans not to panic as the situation was fully under control now.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa who had convened an emergency meeting condemned the attack but also said that it was a "planned conspiracy to vitiate the atmosphere".
The pattern and intensity of blasts indicate the explosions were meant to cause panic rather than claim casualties.
Union Home Ministry closely monitoring situation
The Union Home Ministry is
closely monitoring the situation in Bangalore in the wake of
today's serial blasts, which killed one person and injured
some others.
Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and other senior officials
are in constant touch with Karnataka government officials, a
ministry spokesman said.
"A senior Home Ministry official is closely monitoring
the situation," he said.
No group so far has claimed responsibility for the
blasts. However, sources in the Union Home Ministry said that
the hand of local cadre of banned SIMI was suspected to be
behind the blasts and the expertise in assembling the low
intensity devices possibly being provided by Pakistan-based
Lashker-e-Taiba.
First Published: Friday, July 25, 2008, 00:00