Bengaluru: At least nine people were injured after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast occured at The Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru's Rajajinagar near Whitefield area, ITPL road on Friday. A video showed panic in the area soon after the blast near The Rameshwaram Cafe. Multiple security teams including police, NIA, others were rushed to the site to assess the situation.
After initial investigation, the Karnataka DGP confirmed that it was a bomb blast triggered using a timer-based IED.
Among those injured, three of them were reported to be cafe's employees. According to the police, the age of the accused is between 30 to 35 years. After reaching the cafe, he took a coupon for Rava Idli, but did not eat it, after which he left with a bag there, after which the blast took place. The police said that the accused had arrived in a bus.
The entire area has been cordoned off while fire tenders were seen parked outside the cafe. As per reports so far, there was no harm to any nearby building or establishment.
"We received a call that a cylinder blast occurred in the Rameshawaram cafe. We reached the spot and we are analysing the situation," Whitefield fire station said in a statement.
During the initial probe, police officials checked whether there was any gas pipeline near a wash basin where the blast occured. They ruled out that it was a cylinder blast. The cops are also retrieving all the CCTV footage in the area.
A team of Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad also arrived later at the blast site.
Watch the moment when blast rocked The Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru
Speaking about the incident, a local resident Sabrish Kundal said, "Around 1 pm, we heard a huge blast sound. We rushed to the spot and we saw black smog surrounding the area. We saw 5-6 injured people. We, local residents, rushed everyone to the nearest hospital."
"At around 1 pm, we heard a huge explosion sound. I heard people saying that it was a cylinder blast. There were around 35-40 people inside. Injured were around 4 employees. Suddenly, the ambulance arrived and took the injured to the nearby hospital," says Adison, who came to have lunch at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru.
NIA, IB probe Rameshwaram Cafe blast
Police suspect that a bag at the eatery with a possible improvised explosive device (IED) could have exploded, even as the NIA and the IB have been apprised of the matter.
Officials from the local unit of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) later arrived at the spot.
Siddaramaiah says incident shouldn't be politicised
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said investigation is on to ascertain the cause and nature of the explosion at the popular Rameshwaram Cafe in Whitefiled, and added it might have been caused by an "improvised explosive" device.
The incident should not be politicised and everyone should cooperate, Siddaramaiah said, adding strict action would be taken against those involved.
State police chief Alok Mohan described the explosion as a "bomb blast" and said nobody was seriously injured.
"At 1 PM, a bomb blast occurred at the hotel (cafe), nine people are injured, and no one is serious. We are investigating. FSL (forensic) teams have come and are checking.
City police Commissioner and other officers are at the spot. We will certainly identify who did it," he said after visiting the spot.
Speaking to reporters, he said the injured -- both staff and customers -- are undergoing treatment.
Asked whether an IED was used for the blast, he said, "we are checking."
"Let's not say anything now itself. The FSL team has come and they are checking. Once they collect (samples from the spot), we will examine."
Divya Raghavendra Rao, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Rameshwaram Cafe told a Kannada news channel the blast occurred in the area where customers wash their hands. A stand is also kept there, where the waste is collected.
BJP demands detailed probe
The BJP has sought a detailed probe into the matter.
"Deeply troubled to hear about the blast at Rameswaram Cafe in Bangalore... praying for a swift recovery of all the injured in the incident. State government should order a detailed enquiry & spare no efforts in apprehending the perpetrators," BJP state president Vijayendra Yediyurappa said in a post on 'X.
'Callousness' of the government in downplaying such crimes "is pushing the state into this chaos & proving to be a safe haven for antisocial elements."
"Failure of police intelligence is also evident in this incident. We strongly urge the police to conduct a thorough probe & eradicate these elements from the core without yielding to any political pressures," he demanded.
R Ashoka, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly said, "the bomb blast at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru is yet another glaring example of the deteriorating law and order situation in Karnataka ever since CM @siddaramaiah led @INCKarnataka Govt came to power in the state."
Earlier during the day, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said, "In order to investigate how this blast happened, whether someone did it or whether any incident took place there, a police and FSL team are investigating the matter on the spot. DGP and Police Commissioner also visited the spot... a total of nine people have been injured in this blast but there is no serious injury. I will also go there today or tomorrow morning."
"Whether IED was used in this blast or not, is still a matter of investigation... some people have been heard saying that IED was used in this blast, it is also being heard that someone kept a bag there and then this incident happened. All this is being investigated, the police department is fully engaged in investigating the matter, soon there will be clarity on this," he added.
The Rameshwaram Cafe is a popular eatery in Bengaluru. The explosion took place around 1:15 pm when several customers were present at the restaurant for lunch.
With inputs from PTI, IANS
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