Twin blasts before IPL match in Bangalore; third bomb defused

Bangalore, Apr 17 (PTI) Two crude bombs exploded in quick
succession outside the M A Chinnaswamy cricket stadium here in
south Indian city of Bangalore on Saturday, minutes before an
IPL match was to begin, leaving 15 persons injured and
creating panic in the packed venue.
A third crude bomb was found near Gate number 8 of the
stadium, venue of the fixture between Bangalore Royal
Challengers and Mumbai Indians, but was defused, police said.
The first two explosions took place at around 3.15 PM
local time. A crude bomb hidden behind a plastic board near
Gate number 12 exploded, leaving 15 persons injured, and
damaging the compound. Police said all the injured were out of
danger and only one was seriously injured.
The second blast took place near Anil Kumble circle, where
the bomb was kept hidden behind roadside bushes, but there
were no casualties.
The blasts led to a delayed start of the Indian Premier
League match at the stadium thronged by more than 35,000
spectators.
The injured included policemen and civilians, who suffered
missile and scalp injuries and complained of "loss of hearing"
and damage to ear-drums. They were treated at the nearby
Mallya hospital.
Forensic experts, anti-sabotage squads and explosive
detection teams were pressed into service, City Police
Commissioner Shankar Bidari said.
According to initial information, ammonium nitrate and
other material normally used for making crude bombs were
recovered from the blast sites.
Karnataka state Home Minister V S Acharya said the blasts
appeared to be a "mischievous" attempt to create panic but the
police were investigating it from all angles.
Acharya told PTI by telephone from his hometown of Udupi
that Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram is in touch with the
state government which was also in the process of sending a
report to the Centre on the low-intensity explosions.
Pointing out that the blasts took place not inside the
stadium or at its gates, he said police had undertaken "all
the conventional checking". Police would now have to take
"special care" in such scenarios in future.
"Looks like it was done to create an alarm. We are
investigating from all angles. It's a mischievous attempt to
create panic", Acharya added.
Bangalore Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said the 10
persons undergoing treatment included a head constable, four
constables, two security guards and three civilians.
The City Crime Branch (CCB) has been entrusted with the
investigations into the blasts.
Forensic experts, along with bomb disposal squads,
conducted extensive searches around the stadium for explosive
materials.
The Royal Challengers were initially hesitant to play after
the blasts but later took to the field.
The match began after a 45-minute delay after police gave
the green signal for it. PTI RS
MYR