Two days after a blast in the Mysuru Court complex, investigating agencies who are looking in minute detail at the intensity and precision of the blast, suspect it to be the handiwork of professionals who are experts in handling explosives like the Indian Mujahideen. After chairing a high-level meeting of the Home Ministry and police officials in Bengaluru on Wednesday Chief Minister Siddaramaiah indicated that that it was the handiwork of professionals.
He said, “The NIA has taken over the investigation. Police from Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are also investigating the explosion site. It looks like professionals are involved in the blast. We will come to know after the probe is over.”
According to police sources copper wires, steel splinters, batteries, gunpowder and a timer were used to trigger the blast. “It was a cooker bomb that was meant to create a scare when so many VIPs were in Mysuru to attend the last rites of Rakesh Siddaramaiah,” the source added.
A low-intensity blast rocked Mysuru city complex on Monday which shook the otherwise peaceful city.
According to Karnataka Home Minister Parmeshwara there are similarities in the modus operandi of the blast in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka. He added that they would be handing over the investigations to the NIA. According to police sources the pressure cooker bomb, that was found at Mysuru city court, was similar to the ones found during a blast in Kollam on July 14 and Chitoor on April 8.
Pressure cookers bombs were used in the Mumbai serial blasts in 2006 killing 200 people. The investigating agencies tried to get different pressure cookers to compare the steel and iron pieces found from the site.
Four people were injured in a low intensity blast in the toilet of Mysuru city court on Monday afternoon, sending panic waves across the city. However investigating agencies suspect that sleeper cells of the Indian Mujahideen are active in Bengaluru and Mysuru and it might be the work of these groups to create a scare in a peaceful city.
The court is visited by an average of 2,000 people in a day. Right behind it, there is a railway gate which is often crowded with passengers.