Karnataka: Now this blast near the BJP office just before elections; what could be behind this; 50 KGs of explosives explosives seized near Shimoga

Deccan Herald

Cong suspects RSS hand, BJP claims its leaders were target
Bangalore, April 17, 2013, DHNS:

The bomb blast near the State BJP office in Malleshwaram on Wednesday might have sent shivers down the spine of Bangaloreans. But, political parties are trying to make an issue of it ahead of the May 5 Assembly polls.

Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah blamed the BJP and the Sangh Parivar saying that they end up committing such acts for political gains. Another Congress leader, H Vishwanath, MP from Mysore, alleged that RSS is a suspect in the incident. “RSS has a history of indulging in acts of terrorism. They have done it in Malegaon. The Central investigation agencies should crack the case and expose those behind the blasts before the elections are over,” he stated.

BJP legislator G Madhusudan, who is also from Mysore, hit back at the Congress leaders, saying that their statements were politically motivated.

“The Congress leaders have proved beyond doubt that they can stoop to any level for political gains. Can we question whether the Congress leaders killed former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi only to win elections?” he asked.

Soon after the explosion near the BJP office, Home Minister R Ashoka stated that it was a clear terrorist act and, claimed that senior BJP leaders and workers were the target.

The BJP, in an official release, said that the blast had occurred at a time when senior leaders, including the Chief Minister and State party president, are normally present in the office.

So, it is clear that the target of the terror act was the BJP. “Intention of the act is to disturb the electoral process and intimidate people. Any efforts to terrorise BJP leaders and workers will not be successful. The party will not get cowed down by such acts,” the BJP stated.

JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy said the timing of the blast gives room for doubts.

“We must find out whether the blast was intentional. It should be found out whether anybody is trying to create sympathy wave for themselves ahead of the elections,” he said.

The CPM, while condemning the blast, said that the timing of the explosion leads to many suspicion as it has happened ahead of the polls.

The intentions behind the blast could be to gain public sympathy and influence the elections. A thorough probe will bring out the truth, the party added.



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The Times of India

50 KGs of explosives explosives seized

SHIMOGA: Acting on a tip-off, a special police squad attached to the Election Commission raided a farmhouse in Doddebelu village, near Shimoga, and found explosives concealed in two gunny bags.

The explosive was identified as ammonium nitrate.

The confiscation assumes importance in the backdrop of 1 kg of ammonium nitrate had been used in the explosion triggered in front of the state BJP office on Temple STreet, Malleswaram, Bangalore.

Police officers probing the Malleswaram blast, however, denied any knowledge about the Shimoga dump.

The special police squad which was waiting on the outskirts of the city on Saturday night spotted a person on a bike entering a nearby farmhouse and followed him. The two bags contained ammonium nitrate, 30 gelatin rods, 35 connected capes and 10 without it, altogether weighing about 50kg.