Autorickshaw blasts in Mangaluru: police say planned action

Bengaluru: After an autorickshaw blasted in Karnataka's Mangaluru on Saturday, the state police chief said that the incident was a planned act with intentions to cause serious damage, NDTV reported.

Karnataka DGP Praveen Sood added that the state police is probing the incident in detail with the backing of central agencies.

"The state police has launched an intensive investigation into the auto-rickshaw blast incident that took place in Mangalore yesterday. It is suspected that this may be a terror-related incident. Along with the state police, central investigation teams will also join hands," NDTV quoted Sood.

NDTV learned that it had recovered a burned pressure cooker and which house batteries inside from the autorickshaw.

The blast happened after the vehicle stopped on the road near a building where construction activities were going on. The driver and a passenger got injured in the blast.

Further, CCTV footage gathered from the site showed the vehicle catching fire after what appeared to be a minor explosion. NDTV states that police have not confirmed it as a "blast".

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai visited the city, and ADGP (Law and Order) Alok Kumar has ordered a high-level probe.

"The investigation is conducted in all dimensions. The senior officers in Mangaluru city will monitor the probe," he stated.

City Police commissioner N Sasikumar said that it was early to make any conclusions. The driver of the autorickshaw said that he noticed the fire. Both the injured are going under treatment and are unable to give testimonies.

The officer also appealed to the public to remain calm, not to spread rumours and not to panic. More updates will arrive once the police are able to speak with the injured, the Commissioner added.