Bangalore : From Boston to Bangalore, terror made a quick trip when a bomb went off near the BJP office on Wednesday injuring 16 people, including 11 policemen.
The terror strike came just when the Karnataka BJP office was buzzing with activity ahead of the May 5 Assembly polls. On Wednesday, however, there was minimal activity at the BJP office as the distribution of tickets is over.
The police described it as an “incendiary bomb” that was cleverly strapped to a Yamaha motorbike with a fake Tamil Nadu registration. The bike, stolen from Andhra Pradesh, was parked between a van and a car. The bomb was triggered at 10.30 a.m. and fortunately no senior party leaders were in the office at that time.
Banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen could be behind the blast. As per initial reports, the Improvised Explosive Device contained ammonuium nitrate, which has been used by the IM in the past. Two temples are also located near the blast site and at the moment of the explosion several devotees were on their way to the shrines.
Significantly, the blast has occurred on April 17; by an uncanny coincidence, blasts had taken place near Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2010 on the same date. Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R Ashoka described it as a “clear act of terror,” which was targeted at the party workers and its leaders.
“It is a very clear act of terror… It is targeted at the BJP, our senior leaders and workers”, Ashoka said. “100 per cent, it is targeted at BJP workers”. He said the injured persons were “out of danger.”
The windowpanes of some buildings were shattered under the impact of the blast with the noise being heard at some distance, according to police and eyewitnesses.
Ashoka said only an investigation would reveal which terror group was involved and added that the state government was in constant touch with the Centre. State DGP Lalrokhuma Pachau said, “Nobody is critically injured. All are being treated at hospital.” A National Investigative Agency team has arrived here, he added.
Later in the day, there were reports of a second blast in Bengaluru’s Hebbal locality, which turned out to be incorrect. Following the blast, security was stepped up in Delhi and other cities. In a related development, the central government has ordered an inquiry into the blast. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said in Kolkata, “I have ordered an inquiry. The secretary home department will look into it.”
R S Menon
