Woman killed, three injured in blast on Church Street in Bengaluru

It appears like an act of terror essentially to cause panic and fear, says City Commissioner of Police M.N. Reddi

Police collecting evidence from the area surrounding a restaurant on Church street where the bomb blast took place in Bengaluru on Sunday. Photo: Bhagya Prakash K.

A woman was killed and three persons were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded on the crowded Church Street at 8.35 p.m. on Sunday.

The deceased woman, hailing from Chennai, was identified as Bhavani Devi (38). The injured persons were identified as Karthick, Sandeep and Vinay. While Sandeep and Vinay were admitted to HOSMAT Hospital, Karthick and Bhavani Devi were shifted to Mallya Hospital.

No organisation has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.

Director-General and Inspector-General of Police Lalrokhuma Pachau said that there were intelligence reports about terror strikes in the city in the light of Christmas and New Year. However, it was not specific to Bengaluru.

‘We have certain leads’

City Commissioner of Police M.N. Reddi told presspersons that “we have certain leads” that the police could not disclose at the moment. “It appears like an act of terror essentially to cause panic and fear,” he said.

The IED wrapped in a piece of cloth was placed behind an ornamental flower bush in front of Coconut Grove, a popular joint on the Church Street. The injured were pedestrians who were passing by. People ran helter-skelter after the blast while some others thought was a fire cracker burst. One of the persons injured was even thrown to a distance of over five feet, eyewitnesses said.

Laudable act

An alert auto driver, Narasimha, swung into action and shifted a critically injured Bhavani Devi and others to the Mallya Hospital immediately. Dr. Kanchan Sanyal, medical superintendent of Mallya Hospital, announced that Bhavani (38) died at 10.45 p.m. owing to shrapnel injuries on the head. She was bleeding profusely when she was brought to the hospital. Doctors tried to stop the bleeding and administered CPR, but could not save her life.

Her relative, Karthick, was expected to undergo a minor surgery for injuries on Monday morning.

Police cordoned off the entire area clearing vehicles parked on the street and scouring for any unattended objects in the vicinity. Additional Commissioner of Police B. Dayananda, in-charge of Forensic Science Laboratory, said that they have recovered remnants of the explosive material and the pellets used in making the bomb. He confirmed that it was an IED but said that its composition was still being investigated. Sources in the Police Department said that the IED was timer-triggered.

Additional police forces have been deployed across the city and a high alert has been sounded. Security has been tightened in all exit points of the city.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who spoke to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on phone following the incident assured the State government of all necessary help and assistance. Mr. Siddaramaiah is rushing back to Bengaluru from Mysuru tonight.

Union Minister for Law D.V. Sadananda Gowda, who visited the spot, condemned the incident assuring of all Central assistance. State Home Minister K.J. George said that anti-national elements were behind the blast and none would be spared.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited the blast site late in the night. He said that police had taken all necessary precautions after the arrest of pro-IS tweeter Mehdi Masroor Biswas.