Karnataka   

“An attempt to malign government”

BANGALORE: Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is closely monitoring the situation in Bangalore along with Home Minister V.S. Acharya, has dismissed the serial blasts as an attempt to “malign” the State government and disturb “peace and normality” in the State capital.

The government has ruled out the involvement of any hardcore terrorists in the serial blasts. A high-level police team has been constituted to investigate the cases and track down the culprits.

An emergency meeting of the State Cabinet was held here soon after the blasts were reported and most Ministers of the Yeddyurappa Cabinet, particularly those who represent Assembly constituencies in the city, were present.

Top government officials, including Commissioner of Police M. Shankar Bidari and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister V.P. Baligar briefed the Cabinet on the developments relating to the blasts.

Sources in the State government told The Hindu that special assistance had been sought from the Union government to combat terrorism.

The State government is in constant touch with the Union government keeping the latter posted with the development.

Governor Rameshwar Thakur has also been kept informed.

The Chief Minister, accompanied by some Ministers, met some of blast victims at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences.

The State government has directed the police to step up security arrangements at the airport, bus and railway stations, market places and other sensitive areas.

The Chief Minister said, “The situation in Bangalore is peaceful.” He called upon the people to cooperate with the authorities. “Please don’t panic or be anxious. Everything is fine, and the Government is here to provide security. Day and night vigil will be maintained and special security arrangements will be in place at all the information technology and biotechnology centres,” he said in a statement.

The former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, called upon the Union and the State governments to “sink their party differences and unitedly combat terrorism which has become a threat to survival. The culprits behind these attacks should be tracked down and punished severely so that a strong message is sent out that the perpetrators of such crimes against humanity will not be spared at any cost. Responsibility for any dereliction of duty should also be fixed.”

Mr. Yeddyurappa said, “On the face of it, the serial blasts look to be an attempt at tarnishing the image of the Government. I am confident the police investigation will bring forth the truth. Bangalore has also earned a pride of place nationally and globally, and the attempt is also to sully this image.”

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