Cops search for clues in Bangalore blasts

(Source: www.ibnlive.com)

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa says he expects some important leads by Saturday evening in the serial bomb blasts that rocked Bangalore on Friday afternoon.

"When the session is on, I don't want to comment on it. The investigation is on and let's see what the report will be," Yeddyurappa said.

Yeddyurappa also dubbed the blasts as a conspiracy to defame his government.

"Any incident of this nature will raise concern. The industry is in touch with global clients all over for informing them this has happened. They have spoken to the government and the government has assured them of security and taken steps to up security. They are confident that they will do things in their power to make sure that things don't happen. But nevertheless the fact that a series of blasts have happened in Bangalore does raise concern. This can be mitigated if we see strong action on the part of the government to improve the security conditions," said TV Mohandas Pai, Director and Head-Administration, Infosys.

“Bangalore is so much in the spotlight. I think we are all aware that Bangalore is always on red alert. We are all very aware of the fact that we are very vulnerable to any kind of terrorist threat and this was something that was unexpected. It is time we looked at this together in a collective way and made sure that we really use our intelligence, our technology and our effort to make Bangalore a very safe place,” said Kiran Majumdar Shaw, CMD, Biocon.

Meanwhile, a crude bomb was defused at Bangalore's Forum Mall Koramangala area on Saturday morning.

The government has already announced a Rs 1 lakh reward for information on the identity of the people behind the blasts.

Nine bombs exploded on Friday afternoon killing two people and injuring six others. The intelligence agencies suspect the hand of local militants behind the low-intensity blasts.

Investigations into the blasts are going on with security agencies searching for clues. No group has claimed responsibility for the bombings so far.

"We are investigating all angles and who could have been involved in the blast. We do not want to comment so early. I will have another briefing with police officers at 1430 hrs IST an then I'll be able to give some information," said Karnataka Home Minister VS Acharya.

Police claim to have recovered gelatin sticks, mainly used in quarry operations, from one of the blast sites.

Bangalore was rocked by a major terrorist attack in December 2005, when some unidentified extremists opened fire in the Indian Institute of Science complex killing an Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi professor MC Puri.

These nine blasts have once again brought the South into focus; this time for being a terror destination.

Is South India a terror hub?

Terror's first visit to South India came 10 years ago, during the run-up to the general elections. The target was Coimbatore. Twelve blasts rocked the city and among the targets was a rally BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was to address barely minutes later. Advani escaped the attack allegedly targeted at him but 81 others were killed and 153 injured in the blasts.

On December 28, 2005, terror strikes again, this time outside the country's prestigious Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. Unidentified gunmen fire indiscriminately, killing an IIT professor and injuring four scientists.

On May 18, 2007, a powerful bomb explodes at the historic Mecca Masjid in the Charminar area of Hyderabad during the Friday prayers. 13 are killed and 40 injured in the blast

On August 25, 2007, there was another terror strike in Hyderabad. There were two powerful explosions: one at a crowded park and another at a popular eating joint leave 42 people dead and about 50 injured.