Statement by Union Home Minister on 22ND April, 2013 regarding Bomb Blast at Bangalore
Following is the text of the statement of Union Home Minister Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde on the incident of Bomb Blast at Bangalore:
On 17.04.2013, a blast took place at about 10.15 AM in front of House No.74, Sai Nilaya Temple Street, Malleswaram, Bangalore-74 at about 120 feet North of the State BJP Office. Since the nomination process for forthcoming Assembly Election was underway, the BJP office was being visited by large number of persons including the Chief Minister. A number of vehicles were also parked near the office building.
Preliminary investigations revealed that an IED on a parked motor cycle caused the explosion. No casualty was reported in the blast. However, 16 persons were injured including 11 police personnel. All the injured were admitted to nearby K.C.General Hospital and NIMHANS Hospital and Mallige Hospital. The blast and resultant fire caused extensive damage to three cars and three two wheelers which were parked next to the motor cycle. A Karnataka State Reserve Police Van and eight other four wheelers were also partially damaged because of the blast.
The State Police immediately rushed to the place of occurrence and cordoned off the area. NIA and NSG teams were also rushed to the scene of occurrence to assist the State Police in investigation. Forensic teams from CFSL Hyderabad and Karnataka State FSL jointly processed the crime scene along with NIA and NSG. The FSL experts opined that explosive materials used could be nitrate compounds. CCTV footage collected from the entry exit routes, toll tax gates, apartments, traffic junctions, temples and NJP office are being analyzed to locate the culprits. Around 50 eye witnesses’ statements have been recorded and nearly 80 material objects processed from the crime scene to gather the evidence. An award of Rs 5 Lakh has been announced by the Karnataka Police for anyone giving useful and credible information on the terror incident. Extensive searches are being conducted all over the city. A round the clock control room has also been established by State Police to gather information from public.
A case has been registered in Vyalikaval Police Station vide crime No.0118/2013 dated 17.04.2013 under section 121(A), 120(B), 121, 123, 201, 435, 307, 332 of IPC 3,4,5,6 of Explosive Substances Act, 1908, Section 3 and 4 of Prevention of Damage of Public Property Act and section, 3, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967. The Karnataka Police is investigating the case.
We also need to strengthen the intelligence set up of the States. We have been advising the states on this, but we have not seen much progress. We are trying to strengthen the humint component in our Intelligence Agencies. That will start yielding results. We also need to quickly put the NCTC in place. We have now a revised formulation of NCTC which takes care of the objections of the states.
We need to have tighter checks on explosives. MHA took the initiative and worked with the DIPP to put the Ammonium Nitrate rules in place. Now we are working with them and the NISG to put an explosives tracking system in place. But the problems will remain till the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police have the stocks and consumption of the licensed explosives users checked more often and more stringently.
As I have stated above, the NIA, NSG, IB and the CFSL, are assisting the State Police, who are investigating the case.
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RC/HR