Not possible to say at this moment if any outfit is involved in the blast: G Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said the police are conducting in-depth investigation into the bomb blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe and are looking into all angles.
He said investigators have gathered certain information from CCTV footage, adding that the footage from the city's public transport buses is also being analysed as part of the probe to nab the culprit.
A meeting of senior Home Department officials with the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been convened this afternoon.
A detailed discussion will be held at the meeting following the Friday's incident at the quick-service eatery in Brookefield area in information technology corridor in east Bengaluru, that left ten people injured, and the government will give certain instructions to the officials.
"Several teams have been formed to investigate. In depth investigation is going on with seriousness, some traces have been found. Some information has been gathered from CCTV footage. At that time on that route number 26 buses had gone. There is information that he (suspect) has come by bus. So, (route number) 26
buses have been verified at Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC)," Parameshwara said.
ALSO READ: Cooperating with authorities in their probe: Bengaluru cafe after blast
Addressing reporters here, he said, "on the basis of the theory of elimination", more buses are being verified for footage, as BMTC buses have cameras.
"We expect information from it. Gathering all this information we will nab the culprit. At no cost we will let go. No matter how much they try to escape, we will not leave them," he added.
At this moment it is not possible to say whether any organisation or an individual was involved, the Home Minister said. There were certain theories during his visit to the cafe last night, expressing suspicion that someone might have done it out of "heartburn", unable to digest the cafe's success and expansion.
"We will look into all angles. Whichever angle it might be, we will verify them and catch the culprits behind the blast," he said.
Asked whether the probe will be handed over to central agencies, Parameshwara said, "we have efficient officers, we have efficient FSLs (Forensic Science Laboratory).
We are advanced. FSL team has collected samples, they have gathered information on timer fixed, the capacity of the explosive. It will help the investigation."
Responding to opposition BJP's demand that he quit by accusing him of failing in maintenance of law and order, the Home Minister said, seeking resignation has become a practice for them, they seek resignation of Chief Minister and Home Minister for "everything".
"They keep seeking resignation. When the cooker blast occurred in 2022 (Mangaluru) did they resign then? We have a responsibility to run the administration, we will not let anyone escape," he said, noting that he had appealed to the opposition not to do politics on the issue and to cooperate, as it is the matter of Bengaluru and state's pride and security of the people.
Listing out various measures taken by his department for "safe" Bengaluru recently, Parameshwara said patrolling has been increased, artificial intelligence is being used, and about 7,500 cameras have been installed at various places.
"In this incident too footage from CCTV cameras installed have been gathered, all those things are being verified. It will help," he said.
On whether there was any link to the incident with "Pakistan zindabad ' slogan that was raised in the corridors of 'Vidhana Soudha' recently after Rajya Sabha polls results were declared, the Minister said, "we can't say like that. I don't know. I cannot speculate."
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
