Bengaluru Blast Probe: Parcel Trail and Injured Statements in Focus
Police in Bengaluru are waiting for the forensic laboratory report in the investigation into a suspected IED explosion at a building under construction in Pulakeshinagar. On Friday, officials said the probe is now concentrating on the route taken by the explosive parcel and the statements of those who were hurt.
To identify those behind the blast, investigators have begun examining the explosive material, its source and the people who handled the parcel. More than 100 CCTV camera recordings have been scrutinised so far, and five special teams have been constituted to probe the case.
A key question for investigators is where the accused got the explosive material and who delivered the parcel that caused the blast. Police are trying to find the individual who carried the parcel to the site. Suspicion has fallen on a possible accomplice of the accused.
Statements have been recorded from two injured persons, and police are verifying the information they provided. However, one of them, Alauddin, has made statements that do not match, complicating the investigation.
Alauddin, who has been discharged from hospital, is reported to be badly shaken. He told police that a person had given him the parcel and that it had been kept near the under-construction building, from where he collected it. Officials are working to establish the timeline of events and check his claims.
The second injured man, Suraj, is not yet fit to give a statement. His testimony will be recorded once he recovers sufficiently.
Rahman, the owner of the house where the explosion took place, has rejected any involvement and said he had no knowledge of the incident. He has also not pointed to any old personal enmity that could have led to the blast.
The probe is being supervised by the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the East Division. Investigators are reviewing the available evidence, CCTV footage and statements to identify the people behind the incident and to establish where and how the explosive material was brought in.
The National Investigation Agency may take up the case involving the suspected IED blast in the Pulakeshinagar construction site. Initial findings point to the use of an IED.
The NIA has requested a report from Bengaluru Police and has also obtained reports from the local police and the Scene of Crime Officers team. The agency may inspect the location if further examination is needed. Currently, teams from the local police and the anti-terror squad are investigating how the device entered the building and who is responsible.
Early information suggests that the IED was concealed in a box delivered to the building as a parcel. An unidentified person allegedly called security personnel and asked them to collect the box and keep it inside. The caller claimed that the parcel contained a torch.
The security guard complied, took the box and placed it inside the building. When the box was opened later and its battery was connected, it exploded. A painter and another person were injured. One person reportedly lost a finger, while the other suffered minor injuries.
Investigators are now trying to trace the mysterious phone call and find the person who asked the guard to take the parcel. Police are also probing how the box reached the spot and whether anyone else was involved in placing the explosive device.
The use of an IED has increased worries among security agencies. Investigators are trying to determine whether the blast is part of a larger conspiracy or linked to a personal dispute, and whether any private conflict lies behind the explosion.
The incident has drawn particular attention because Bengaluru is often called 'India's Silicon Valley'. The city hosts several defence establishments, scientific institutions, research centres and manufacturing units.
Security agencies are also concerned about how the persons involved learned to build an IED using a battery. Investigators will examine the device's design, the materials used and the method of detonation to uncover the motive and assess the wider security implications.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge appealed to people on Wednesday not to believe in rumours. He said officials must wait for the laboratory report to determine the correct cause of the incident.