Bangalore: Karnataka Government today said
underworld elements and betting lobby were behind the April 17
twin low-intensity bomb explosions outside the Chinnaswamy
Cricket stadium before an IPL match.
"Underworld normally has links with betting lobby. Some
elements wanted to scare away people and shift the two IPL
semi-finals from the city to Mumbai," Home Minister V S
Acharya told reporters here.
The probe into the explosions and recovery of crude bombs
outside the stadium was progressing, he said but declined to
divulge details.
The twin blasts had left at least 17 people injured.
A detailed report on the incident was sent to the Union
Home Ministry which appreciated the security measures the
police had put in place at the stadium and also the decision
by the Police Commissioner to go ahead with the IPL match
between Royal Challengers and Mumbai Indians on that day.
Suspension of the match would have triggered panic and
even a stampede while evacuating 30,000-odd spectators who had
gathered at the stadium, Acharya said.
"The two matches were not shifted because of security
reasons," he reiterated.
PTI
