Bengaluru: The Bengaluru City Police have arrested three persons in connection with the bomb blast at an under-construction house in Pulakeshinagar last week, confirming that the incident stemmed from personal rivalry and ruling out a terror angle.

Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh announced the arrests at a press conference on Sunday, October 25, and said the case was cracked within 72 hours through a coordinated investigation involving city police teams and multiple specialised agencies.

The blast occurred on the eve of the final day of Dasara celebrations, initially prompting investigators to examine several possible motives. The probe eventually established that the attack was allegedly planned to target a security guard at the construction site over disputes dating back to the accused persons’ hometown in Assam.

A worker who opened the parcel sustained serious injuries, while the intended target suffered minor injuries. The injured worker is recovering in hospital, according to the police.

Personal rivalry behind targeted attack

Commissioner Singh said the three accused and the intended target were originally from the same village in Assam. Police verified their backgrounds with the Assam Police and found that the individuals had been involved in disputes relating to financial matters, land and a domestic issue within the family.

According to the commissioner, one of the accused allegedly held a grudge against the target and enlisted the help of two others to carry out the attack.

The accused allegedly arranged for a parcel to be delivered to the security guard at the under-construction property. However, another worker opened it and suffered more serious injuries when the device exploded.

Police said the investigation found no evidence indicating a terror-related motive. The incident was attributed to personal enmity, although further legal proceedings will establish the charges against the accused.

Main accused arrested in Maski

The police commissioner said two of the accused were apprehended in Bengaluru, while the third was arrested in Maski in Raichur district.

According to the investigation, the main accused travelled from Maski to Bengaluru, allegedly assembled the explosive device and placed it at the intended location before returning. The two alleged accomplices in Bengaluru reportedly helped him reach the site, identify the route and persuade the intended target to accept and open the parcel.

Singh said the main accused worked as an electrical worker. Investigators recovered materials from his residence and traced the places where components had allegedly been purchased.

The recovered materials included pellets, batteries and firecrackers from which gunpowder had allegedly been extracted. Police said the accused had assembled a basic electrical circuit incorporating a push button.

According to the commissioner, the intended target was repeatedly asked to press the button. Activating it completed the circuit and triggered the explosion.

Police described the device as rudimentary and said there was no evidence that the accused had received outside training or conducted a trial run. The main accused had studied up to Class 8, according to the commissioner.

Investigators also examined the accused’s internet browsing history, which the commissioner said indicated a strong interest in crime and methods of assembling explosive devices.

More than 1,500 CCTV recordings examined

The investigation involved more than 10 police teams and over 78 personnel, along with officers and staff from other agencies. The East Zone police, Internal Security Division, Anti-Terror Cell and Central Crime Branch contributed to the probe.

The police also received assistance from central government agencies, the Assam Police and the Raichur Police.

Singh said investigators questioned around 100 people during the course of the investigation and examined more than 1,500 CCTV recordings. Technical analysis and the examination of surveillance footage helped investigators reconstruct the movements of the accused and establish the sequence of events.

The commissioner said the perpetrators had allegedly used methods intended to mislead investigators, making it difficult to identify the motive during the initial stages.

The coordinated investigation ultimately led police to the alleged personal disputes linking the accused and the intended target.

Police warn public against lending mobile phones indiscriminately

Commissioner Singh issued a public advisory after investigators found that mobile phones belonging to third parties had allegedly been used by the accused.

According to the police, the accused borrowed phones from unsuspecting people by claiming that their own devices were not working or had run out of power and that they needed to make an urgent call.

The commissioner urged citizens to exercise caution when allowing strangers to use their mobile phones, warning that such requests could potentially involve people in criminal activity without their knowledge.

The advisory highlights the importance of being careful when sharing personal devices with unfamiliar individuals, particularly when the circumstances surrounding the request cannot be verified.

CCTV coverage to be reviewed

The commissioner also said the police would take steps to identify and address gaps in CCTV surveillance, described as “shadow areas”, across the city.

The proposed measures include auditing camera coverage and enforcing requirements for the installation and maintenance of CCTV systems under the Public Safety Act. The police said the focus would include establishments, public spaces and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses.

The measures are intended to strengthen surveillance coverage and improve the availability of evidence during investigations.

The blast investigation has also underlined the role of surveillance footage, technical analysis and coordination between agencies in solving serious crimes.

Rs 3 lakh reward for investigating team

In recognition of the team’s efforts in solving the case within 72 hours, the Director General and Inspector General of Police, along with the Bengaluru City Police, announced a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh for the investigating personnel.

With three arrests made and the police ruling out a terror angle, the investigation has established personal rivalry as the alleged motive behind the attack. The accused will face further legal proceedings as the case progresses.

The police have urged the public to remain alert, cooperate with law enforcement and exercise caution when lending mobile phones to strangers. They have also indicated that improvements to CCTV coverage will form part of wider efforts to strengthen public safety across Bengaluru.