The low-intensity bomb blast at Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram cafe on Friday, which injured 10 people, was carried out by triggering an improvised explosive device (IED) using a timer, police sources said as the probe under anti-terror law progresses.
Cops recovered the timer and other parts of the IED from the blast spot in the Whitefield area, and officials said efforts are underway to trace the accused, who was seen in the CCTV viusual placing a bag in the cafe just before the blast.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who confirmed it was a bomb blast, assured a proper investigation into the incident and urged opposition parties not to play politics over it.
RAMESHWARAM CAFE BLAST | LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in a detailed statement, announced that the investigation is underway to ascertain the cause and nature of the explosion at the popular cafe, which injured 10 people between 12:50 pm and 1 pm on Friday. He urged opposition parties that the incident should not be politicised and everyone should cooperate.
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Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Home Minister G Parameshwara visited the blast site and also met those injured at the hospital. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will be visiting the blast victims today.
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The police identified a supspect from the CCTV footage. A young man of about 28-30 years came to the cafe, purchased Rava idli at the counter, placed the bag near a tree (adjacent to the cafe) and left. After one hour the blast took place, DK Shivakumar said.
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The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has taken up the investigation and case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Explosive Substances Act. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also probing the incident along with Bengaluru Police. Seven to eight teams have been formed, and senior officials said that the key priority is to find the culprit at the earliest.
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Owners of the Rameshwaram Cafe issued a statement saying that they are cooperating with authorities and officials in their investigation and added that they are “deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident at our Brookefield branch.”
Source Agencies
