(a) whether a bomb blast occurred in Bangalore recently;
(b) if so, the number of persons killed and injured and damage to property reported in
this regard;
(c) whether the said blast has any links with the previous bomb blasts in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the status of the investigation made therein and the measures taken by the Government
to check such activities in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)
(a)&(b): Yes, Madam. On 17.4.2013, a bomb blast took place at about 10.15 a.m. in front
of House No. 74, Sai Nilaya Temple Street, Malleswaram, Bangaluru-74 at about 120 feet
north of the State BJP
Office. No casuality was reported. However, 16 persons were injured including 11 police
personnel. The blast and resultant fire caused extensive damage to three cars and three
two wheelers which were parked next to the motorcycle. A Karnataka State Reserve Police
van and eight other four wheelers were also partially damaged because of the blast.
(c) to (e): The preliminary investigation suggests that the blast was due to a bomb blast
in a parked two-wheeler. The NIA, NSG, IB and the CFSL are assisting the State Police,
who are investigating the case.
Law & Order and Police is a State subject, therefore, the primary responsibility to
address these remains with the State Governments. Combating terrorism, however, is a
shared responsibility considering its implication on internal security. The Government
of India has been assisting the State Governments to modernize their Police forces
through the Modernization of State Police Force Scheme. In order to deal with the menace
of extremism and terrorism the Government of India have taken various measures which,
inter-alia, include augmenting the strength of Central Armed Police Forces; establishment
of NSG hubs at Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai; empowerment of DG, NSG to
requisition aircraft for movement of NSG personnel in the event of any emergency;
strengthening and re-organizing of Multi-Agency Centre to enable it to function on 24x7
basis for real time collation and sharing of intelligence with other intelligence and
security agencies; tighter immigration control; effective border management through round
the clock surveillance & patrolling on the borders; establishment of observation posts,
border fencing, flood lighting, deployment of modern and hi-tech surveillance equipment;
upgradation of Intelligence setup; and coastal security. The Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act, 1967 has been amended and notified in 2008 and 2012 to strengthen the
punitive measures to combat terrorism. The National Investigation Agency has been
constituted under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 to investigate and
prosecute offences under the Acts specified in the Schedule. As a part steps to counter
terrorist threats, the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) has been created.
The Prevention of Money Laundering Act has been amended in 2009 to inter-alia, include
certain offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, as predicate offence.
Further, the Government continues to raise the issues of Cross-Border Terrorism in all
its aspects including its financing on various multi-lateral and bilateral fora.