Bengaluru Police Solve Jeremiah Road Blast Case, Arrest Bakery Salesman Over Personal Dispute

Arrest Made

Bengaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old bakery salesman for allegedly planning a bomb blast at an under-construction building on Jeremiah Road, an incident that left two people injured. Investigators say the suspect held a bitter grudge against his uncle, Allauddin M., due to money and property fights, as well as the breakdown of his sister's marriage. The accused allegedly worked with two childhood friends to build a homemade explosive device hidden inside a parcel.

The Blast

The explosion happened on October 20 on the fifth floor of the building while workers were present. One of the conspirators made the improvised explosive device, or IED, in Raichur after watching videos on YouTube. They used material taken from firecrackers, packed it inside a battery along with an electrical circuit and small pellets, and hid it inside a torch. The main suspect left the parcel at a small shop near where his uncle was working and called him on the phone to force him to open it.

Injuries and Investigation

Allauddin was eating lunch and asked his colleague, a security guard from Uttar Pradesh named Suraj Kumar, to open the package instead. The device went off instantly when the parcel was opened, causing severe injuries to both men. The use of a bomb led to early rumors of a terror attack, and officers from the National Investigation Agency joined the probe. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh stated that about 1,200 personnel worked in different teams to solve the case, and he announced a reward of three lakh rupees for the team that cracked it. State Home Minister Priyank Kharge had earlier asked people not to believe rumors while the police hunt was underway.

Context

Homemade explosive devices hidden in everyday objects are sometimes used in personal targeted attacks rather than larger public terror plots. Law enforcement agencies in major Indian cities routinely deploy large teams and specialized units when explosives are used, regardless of the ultimate motive behind the incident.