Rs.10-lakh reward offered for clues on Bengaluru blast

Karnataka Police Monday announced a Rs.10-lakh reward for credible information on people behind Sunday's blast in Bengaluru that killed a woman and injured three other people.

"We have decided to give Rs.10 lakh as reward to anyone giving credible information, useful tip-offs or clues leading the arrest of the suspects behind the explosion," Commissioner of Police M.N. Reddi told reporters here.

A low-intensity improvised explosive device (IED) went off near the Coconut Grove restaurant on Church Street, in which a woman named Bhavani from Chennai suffered a severe head injury and died late Sunday.

"We are seeking public support to nab the suspects, as we alone can't do everything due to resource constraints and the surprise element of the perpetrators," Reddi said.

Asserting that police would be able to check terror attacks if people become their eyes and ears, Reddi said no organisation or person has claimed responsibility for the blast.

"We have set up a special investigation team to probe the blast, which could be a handiwork of any anti-national organisation or individuals representing terror outfits," he said.

Admitting that the public was wary of sharing information with police as they fear persecution or threat to life, the police commissioner said the reward would embolden people to help police in achieving breakthroughs in such terror incidents.

"No arrests have been made so far, though we detained a couple of people late Sunday from the blast site to find out if they knew or saw anyone planting the crude device at the spot," he said.

With the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) joining the special investigation team (SIT), forensic experts and a bomb detection squad inspected the blast site and collected the remnants of the IED, including a timer.

Besides stepping up vigil and deploying additional forces in public places, airport, railway stations and bus terminals, police intensified patrolling in the city, especially in sensitive areas, in view of the ensuing New Year's Eve revelry and growing threat perception.

In a related development, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister K.J. George reviewed security measures in the city with senior police officers, intelligence agencies and security experts.

"We are considering to enact the Public Safety Enforcement Act on the lines of a similar law in Andhra Pradesh, as we do not have the wherewithal, especially enough people to monitor such events or prevent them," Siddaramaiah told reporters.