A bomb blast at a popular eatery in the city on 1 March left nine persons injured and police have launched a probe from all angles after it emerged that an earlier suspected gas leak was not the cause of the explosion.
Police suspect that a bag at the eatery with a possible Improvised Explosive Device (IED) could have exploded, even as the NIA and the IB have been apprised of the matter. Officials from the local unit of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) later arrived at the spot.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said investigation is on to ascertain the cause and nature of the explosion at the popular Rameshwaram Cafe in Whitefiled, and added it might have been caused by an “improvised explosive” device.
The incident should not be politicised and everyone should cooperate, Siddaramaiah said, adding strict action would be taken against those involved.
State Police chief Alok Mohan described the explosion as a “bomb blast” and said nobody was seriously injured.
“At 1 PM, a bomb blast occurred at the hotel (cafe), nine people are injured, and no one is serious. We are investigating. FSL (forensic) teams have come and are checking. City police Commissioner and other officers are at the spot. We will certainly identify who did it,” he said after visiting the spot.
Speaking to reporters, he said the injured both staff and customers are undergoing treatment.
Asked whether an IED was used for the blast, he said, “we are checking.”
“Let’s not say anything now itself. The FSL team has come and they are checking. Once they collect (samples from the spot), we will examine.”
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