BANGALORE: The Bangalore police are making efforts to ascertain whether the Delhi blast suspects took shelter in a lodge here soon after the explosions that claimed 59 lives.

The circumstances in which three persons stayed in a lodge in the Majestic area for a day and checked out have raised suspicion that they could be the blast suspects for whom a search is on.

Director-General and Inspector-General of Police B.S. Sial told The Hindu on Saturday that a police team has been sent to Hassan to question the manager of the lodge. Mr. Sial said the person will throw some light on those who stayed at the lodge for a day. He made it clear that the police are still not sure about identities of the three persons.

Search on

To a question, Mr. Sial said Bangalore Police Commissioner Ajai Kumar Singh has submitted a report on investigations conducted by the city police in this regard. Twelve teams from the city police, besides those from the State Intelligence wing, are searching for the suspects.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) H.C. Kishorechandra said the police are checking several lodges and other places where persons with a criminal background could be taking shelter. "We do not know whether those who stayed in the lodge are terrorists." But he cannot say they were not blast suspects, he said.

Mr. Kishorechandra told The Hindu that the police are questioning real-estate agents in the city about people for whom they have got houses on rent in recent past.

The police have sought public cooperation to trace the blast suspects and to prevent sabotage acts in the city. They have requested house owners not to let out their buildings to strangers without ascertaining their personal details.

Owners and managers of lodges and guesthouses have been advised to follow this instruction before letting out rooms. The public have been advised to alert the police control room of abandoned bags/articles in crowded areas such as markets, cinemas, airport, railway stations and bus stands. The police control room can be contacted on 100 or the following numbers: 22943322, 22942222, 22943003, 22943000, 22943030, 22942865, 22943100, 22943200, 22943300 and 22943283.

Besides the quick response team (QRT) at the Police Commissioner's office, dog squads and bomb detection and disposal squads have been kept on alert in the five police divisions in the city. A special commando unit in the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), raised exclusively to tackle terrorism, is on alert.

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