Bengaluru Police at the spot of the blast on Church Street on Sunday night. (Press Trust of India)
Following the blast in central Bengaluru, that claimed one life on Sunday, police in the city are putting extra security measures in place, particularly at the area where people traditionally congregate to bring in the New Year.
This is close to the area where the blast took place. Police have already changed the earlier announced closing time for bars and restaurants from 2am to 1am on the night of New Year's Eve because of the blast.
The city's Police Commissioner, MN Reddi, told the media, "31st December is as usual a major occasion for Bangaloreans, because people in thousands gather on MG Road, Brigade Road, Residency Road, Richmond Road and other roads nearby MG Road. In view of the blast on the 28th, there is a certain shadow over the celebrations that will go on for New Year's Eve. However, keeping that background in mind we are making large number of extra, additional security measures."
"There is no specific alert. There is heightened sense of need for maintaining security, so the job is being done by the police and security forces. I request the public not to worry too much about it but be vigilant about any strange object or person," Mr Reddi added.
On the status of investigation of the blast itself, he said, "The investigation (of the blast) is still at a nascent stage."
Threatening tweets had been seen from a person claiming to be the man behind the blasts. But police say they have spoken to the person they believe sent those tweets, and that he is not a threat. "I believe he was not mentally sound. He has been questioned. Not taken into custody. He was working on this Twitter handle on his own without his family knowing about it," Mr Reddi said.