At least 16 persons including eight policemen were injured when a low intensity bomb blast took place near the office of rightwing Hindu group BJP in India’s Bangalore city on Wednesday.

Bangalore, April 17/Nationalturk – A low intensity blast took place near the office of rightwing Hindu group BJP in Bangalore city in South India on Wednesday, injuring at least 16 persons including eight policemen.

“The blast took place at 1030 hours near the BJP office in the Malleshwaram area of Bangalore, a crowded residential neighbourhood. At least 16 people including, eight policemen and eight civilians were injured in the blast. The injured were shifted to hospital. Fortunately, none of the injured is critical,” a senior police officer said.

According to eye witnesses, a loud noise was heard and some vehicles went up in flames, causing panic among the people, who ran helter skelter.  A police vehicle parked in the area was also damaged in the blast.

They said glasspanes of a several buildings in the area were shattered due to impact of the blast.

Immediately, after the blast, police and intelligence personnel rushed to the spot. They cordoned the area and collected samples and were looking for clues.

Explosives were placed on a motorcycle: Police

Bangalore Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar told media persons that the explosives appear to have been placed on a motorcycle.

He said according to preliminary investigation, it appears to be an explosion. “The motorbike with an ‘incendiary bomb’ was used. The bike was planted in the midst of cars, he said.

He said details of the explosive material used in the blast were being collected.

There were speculations that the blast was caused by LPG cylinder fitted in a car. However, Karnataka Home Minister R Ashoka described the blast as “terrorist activity” and said BJP workers were the target of the attack.

He said the terror attack was carried out by use of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

Bangalore is the capital of Indian state of Karnataka. It is being described as IT capital of India

A police official said since elections in Karnataka are scheduled for May 5, a police van was parked near the BJP office for security reason.

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Faiz Ahmad / India India News