Bengulura Blast Suspect Caught on Camera
The man to whom Friday’s blast at a cafe in Bengaluru has been attributed, was caught on CCTV.
While several people were gathering to partake of lunch or a mid-day snack at a Bengaluru cafe, a dastardly miscreant had other plans. The hitherto identified man entered the enclosure, purchased a plate of Rav Idli, consumed the meal and left after placing a most unsavoury item under a tree close by. At around 1 pm, the package reportedly exploded causing injuries to about 10 patrons. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. The incident took place at Rameshwaram Cafe in the city’s Whitefield area.
Now, CCTV footage has surfaced of the suspect entering and leaving the premises. He is believed to have been in his late 20s and is suspected of using an improvised explosive device (IED). Oddly enough, his appearance was conspicuous by the fact that he wore a face mask, shades and a cap - long after such COVID protocol has been lifted. The wounded persons which included some from the cafe’s staff, are being given treatment and are said to be in stable condition. Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Central Crime Branch (CCB) have swung into action and a methodical investigation is underway.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and his Deputy D. K. Shivakumar both visited the site of the explosion and have appealed against the incident being politicised. Meanwhile, though the culprit has been absconding and his motive unclear, law enforces have made some headway in the case by detaining an individual who was briefly seen with him and is suspected to be his accomplice. The cafe’s co-owner Divya Raghavendra Rao went on record saying that initial assumptions were that the explosion had occurred in the eatery’s kitchen.
Bengaluru is not a stranger to perpetrated blasts. On July 25, 2008, nine bombs exploded within a few hours at major localities in the city, killing 1 person and wounding 20 others. Investigations led to a dead end with no suspects identified or taken into custody. More recently, on December 28, 2014, a planned explosion killed one individual in central Bengaluru’s busy Church Street. Again, no suspects were taken into custody. How’s that for a black eye to the city’s law enforcers.
