Policemen at the site of the bomb blast in central Bengaluru. (Photo: Press Trust of India)
Bengaluru:
A day after a blast in central Bengaluru claimed the life of a woman, investigators are busy trying to gather more evidence from the site.
Members of the bomb disposal squad of the intelligence wing and investigators from the Forensic Science Department are scouring the area with metal detectors. The explosive used was a pipe bomb that was hidden in a potted plant outside a restaurant, and it was filled with shrapnel, say the police. The investigation is being carried out by local agencies, but Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said the National Investigation Agency could take over the investigation.
Police in the city have been extra vigilant after an alert was recently issued by the Union Home Ministry. They have also been on alert in the wake of the tension caused by some threats reportedly circulating on Twitter and Whatsapp, after the arrest of a local man who was allegedly behind a pro-Islamic State Twitter handle.
But Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has denied any failure on the part of intelligence agencies in preventing the blast.
City Police Commissioner MN Reddi told NDTV that all angles were being looked into, including whether members from the Students Islamic Movement of India, who had escaped from a jail in Madhya Pradesh, had any role to play in the blast.
Police are also exploring the possibility of the blast being a fallout of the arrest of a local man who was allegedly behind ShamiWitness, a pro-Islamic State Twitter handle.
A meeting of top officials was held at the Chief Minister's residence today to discuss the progress of the investigation.
"We are looking at implementing or bringing in a Public Safety Act which will involve private establishments setting up CCTV cameras at their cost and providing the feed to the police authorities as and when needed," Mr Reddi told NDTV.
A special cadre for intelligence officers, to increase the level of professionalism, and a team of engineers will help increase the technical capability of the investigation teams in such cases.
Taking no chances, the city has also decided to revised its earlier deadline of 2 am for New Year's Eve celebrations; revelers will now have to wrap up by 1 am.
"We would like to impose certain restrictions even at public gatherings. We will come out with a plan," said Mr Reddi.
Members of the bomb disposal squad of the intelligence wing and investigators from the Forensic Science Department are scouring the area with metal detectors. The explosive used was a pipe bomb that was hidden in a potted plant outside a restaurant, and it was filled with shrapnel, say the police. The investigation is being carried out by local agencies, but Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said the National Investigation Agency could take over the investigation.
Police in the city have been extra vigilant after an alert was recently issued by the Union Home Ministry. They have also been on alert in the wake of the tension caused by some threats reportedly circulating on Twitter and Whatsapp, after the arrest of a local man who was allegedly behind a pro-Islamic State Twitter handle.
But Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has denied any failure on the part of intelligence agencies in preventing the blast.
City Police Commissioner MN Reddi told NDTV that all angles were being looked into, including whether members from the Students Islamic Movement of India, who had escaped from a jail in Madhya Pradesh, had any role to play in the blast.
Police are also exploring the possibility of the blast being a fallout of the arrest of a local man who was allegedly behind ShamiWitness, a pro-Islamic State Twitter handle.
A meeting of top officials was held at the Chief Minister's residence today to discuss the progress of the investigation.
"We are looking at implementing or bringing in a Public Safety Act which will involve private establishments setting up CCTV cameras at their cost and providing the feed to the police authorities as and when needed," Mr Reddi told NDTV.
A special cadre for intelligence officers, to increase the level of professionalism, and a team of engineers will help increase the technical capability of the investigation teams in such cases.
Taking no chances, the city has also decided to revised its earlier deadline of 2 am for New Year's Eve celebrations; revelers will now have to wrap up by 1 am.
"We would like to impose certain restrictions even at public gatherings. We will come out with a plan," said Mr Reddi.
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