Update: Woman killed in bomb blast was on Christmas Vacation
Bhavani Bala, the woman who died in the blast in Bengaluru on Sunday evening, had come from Chennai for Christmas vacation. The 38-year-old mother of two was out with relatives, enjoying an evening stroll, when she was fatally wounded.
Bhavani’s 15-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter are reportedly in Chennai. On her last night in Bengaluru, she wanted to see Church Street, MG Road and Brigade Road.
Just after 8.30 pm, the bomb exploded outside the popular Coconut Grove restaurant, when Bhavani was walking by with her nephew Kartik, 24. They had apparently fallen behind the others in the group.
The low intensity explosive had reportedly been placed on the pavement outside the restaurant.
Bhavani was hit in the head and neck by shrapnel, which caused severe blood loss. She was taken to the hospital in an auto-rickshaw. She died soon after. Her husband, a businessman arrived in the city last evening.
Kartik was also hit but he is said to be out of danger. Doctors say he needs minor surgery.
Relatives say Bhavani had visited Mysore two days ago and on Sunday, wanted to pack in more sightseeing. She reportedly was to return to Chennai on Sunday, but couldn’t get tickets.
The Karnataka government has announced five lakh rupee compensation for Bhavani’s family.
Rijju, “SIMI involvement might be there”
Update (10.14): Police say investigations have not concluded anything yet; however it is certain that it was an IED blast and has concluded it to be a terror attack.
The police added that the CCTV footage being analyzed, though hotel footage is very grainy. Timer and battery found by probe agencies and the material has been sent for forensic analysis. The NIA is also probing into the case.
DCP Sandeep Patil addressing the media said that there is a lot of similarity between Chennai train blast and Pune German bakery blast. Police will be sending teams to these cities to get more information. Right now concentration is on the terror tweet after the arrest of Mehdi.
Minister of State Home, Kiran Rijju also confirmed the blast as a terror attack and indicated that the SIMI might be involved. In the meanwhile Ajit Doyal NSA has arrived at the MHA for high level discussions.
No intelligence failure, claims Karnataka government
Update (08.20): Denying any intelligence failure in the low intensity bomb blast in Bengaluru which killed a woman and injured three others, the Karnataka government has termed the attack as anti-national. “We need to be alert. We should not panic. It is an anti-national attack. We are taking all precautionary measures,” Karnataka Home Minister KJ George said.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited the blast site late on Sunday night and met the injured at the hospital. He has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the relatives of the blast victim. He also said that compensation would also be given to the injured but did not specify the quantum.
The CM is scheduled to hold a high level meeting on Monday to probe the blast. “We have to be alert everywhere, we have to be careful. They wanted to create panic, we should be prepared to face them,” KJ George said.
Bengaluru Police chief said that an improvised explosive device was used in the blast. “An explosion was heard on Church Street around 8:30 pm on Sunday. An improvised explosive device (IED) was used in the blast. Due to various circumstances and festivities, there have been threat perceptions in general and we have been on alert,” Bangalore Police Commissioner MN Reddi said.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has assured all help to the state government even as the CM maintained that it is too early to say anything. “Spoke to Karnataka CM Shri S Siddaramaiah regarding the Bangalore blasts. He apprised me of the situation. Centre ready to provide all help,” Rajnath Singh tweeted.
This blast comes during the holiday season, when the country is on high alert. The restaurant is close to the fashionable Brigade Road and MG Road, dotted with bars and restaurants with teeming crowd on weekends.
A team of NIA has been rushed to the state and high alert has been issued in many cities, including Delhi, across India following the blast.
No one as of now has claimed responsibility for the blast.
This is the fourth time the country’s technology hub has been hit by bomb blasts after incidents in 2008, 2010 and 2013. In 2008, in serial blasts at nine places, two persons were killed and 20 others injured in an IED explosion. 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 went off outside the state BJP headquarters in the crowded Malleshwaram area just ahead of the Assembly polls, leaving 16 people injured.
Last Night Report
Woman killed in bomb blast at Church Street
Update (23.00): A woman who was injured in the explosion at Church Street has died.The woman, identified as Bhavani, 38, reportedly recieved shrapnel injuries to the skull. She was rushed to a local hospital, where she died around 8.45 pm.
Police sources said it was a low-intensity blast from an Improvised Explosive Device, which was filled with shrapnel, used ammonium nitrate and was fitted with a timer device. The bomb had apparently been placed in a drain on the roadside. Several other have been injured.
Bomb Blast in Bengaluru’s Church Street, Two Persons Injured
Update (21.45): A low-intensity blast has been reported in Bengaluru’s Church Street area on Sunday evening.
The blast took place outside a restaurant just after 8.30 pm. Two persons were injured in a blast. One of the victims is reportedly an elderly woman who has been seriously injured. The other person, a man, has suffered minor injuries. Both have been shifted to a local hospital.
The police are yet to say anything on the nature of the blast. Sources said it was a low-intensity blast from an Improvised Explosive Device. The forensics team has been rushed to the spot.
The situation is now reportedly under control and the entire Bengaluru police force has been mobilised for the same.
Home Minister Rajnath Sigh tweets “Spoke to Karnataka CM Shri S Siddaramaiah regarding the Bangalore blasts. He apprised me of the situation. Centre ready to provide all help”
