The twin blasts triggered by the low intensity improvised explosive devices (IEDs) outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here ahead of the IPL league match on Saturday is the fourth terror-linked incident in Bangalore. So far three different organisations have been involved in such attacks.
The first ever act of terror in Bangalore was the explosion that rocked the St. Peter Paul Church at Jagjivan Ram Nagar on July 10, 2000. The bombs were set off by activists of Deendar Anjuman, a banned outfit. This home-grown terror network was also involved in blasts at churches at Wadi in Gulbarga and Keshavapur in Hubli.
Incidentally, explosive materials being transported in a van by Deendar Anjuman activists exploded near Minerva Mills in Magadi Road police limits. In a trial conducted at the high security Bangalore Central Prison here, a special court sentenced 11 activists to death and 12 to life in November 2008.
IISc attack
The attack by the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists on delegates coming out of a seminar at the J.N. Tata Auditorium, Indian Institute of Science, on December 28, 2005 led to the killing of M.C. Puri, Professor Emeritus, Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi. Four were injured in the incident. The investigation, however, hit a dead-end with the police unable to arrest Abu Hamza who opened fire. While the prime suspect is still at large, Salauddin, who had provided logistical support, was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police two years after the attack.
Bangalore was rocked by a series of blasts on July 25, 2008 when suspected activists of the Indian Mujahideen set off low-intensity IEDs in eight places across the city, which killed a woman and left 20 injured.
The blasts were reported between 1.15 p.m. and 1.45 p.m. at Madiwala Check Post, Rajaram Mohun Roy Road, Adugodi Main Road, Berlie Street in Langford Town, Anepalya, Kengeri RTO, Nayandahalli and New Guddadahalli on Mysore Road.
In all these places, the explosives were placed on the pavement.
The trial of 26 persons charged in this connection is in progress at the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court in Bangalore.
Meanwhile, the role of the Indian Mujahideen is being suspected in the Chinnaswamy Stadium blasts and the recovery of three unexploded devices later.
