The blast in Bengaluru’s liveliest area Church Street on Sunday, which killed one woman from Tamil Nadu and injured three others, is reportedly the handiwork of outlawed outfit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
Even though it was a low-intensity blast, investigators are now looking at the possible involvement of the five absconding SIMI fugitives — known as Faisal’s gang — who had escaped from the Khandwa prison in Madhya Pradesh in October 2013 and are reportedly behind several terror attacks.
Briefing the reporters about security arrangements here, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with State Home Minister KJ George and top police officials, announced the implementation of the Public Safety Enforcement Act, which will ensure CCTV installation at “vulnerable” popular joints like malls, cinema halls and hotels.
“All angles are being looked into the blast, which has been described as a ‘terror attack’ by the Centre,” he added.However, a special team, headed by Additional Commissioner of Police (law and Order), had also been formed to probe the matter.In a makeover to inject professionalism into the Intelligence department, a separate cadre will also be created, while a cyber cell with 40 engineers will provide technical support, he said.
He said the bomb was planted where plants are grown along the compound wall of the restaurant, located on Church Street that along with MG Road and fashionable Brigade Road attracts huge crowds with bars and restaurants. “Our police have studied that Act and prepared a draft so as to implement such Act in our state also. We have decided to introduce Public Safety Enforcement Act.”
As investigators pieced together the available leads on the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) triggered explosion, the National Investigation Agency began assisting the city police which sent out teams to Chennai and Pune where the bomb blasts had occurred in the past.
City Police Commissioner MN Reddi said, “CCTV footage that we have got is very limited...our teams are looking into it, I don’t have information on leads available from it. It may take some time.” On involvement of SIMI whose five members had escaped from Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa jail and reports of their visiting the State, Reddi said, “We are looking into that as well.”
Asked about the possible link between the blast and the arrest of Mehdi Masroor Biswas, Reddi said, “Mehdi is an ISIS propagandist. ISIS is in foreign land and there is no information of its roots in our country or State, but having said that there is no rule that they have to commit such acts with allegiance to one group, they might have acted individually, we are looking at all angles.”