Focus on Channapatna link

Focus on Channapatna link
DH News Service, Channapatna/Bangalore:
Channapatna appears to be emerging as a major link in the serial blasts that rocked Bangalore on Friday. Late on Saturday night, police recovered a trunkful of ammonium nitrate, which was the main ingredient in the bombs that went off in Bangalore, from Channapatna.

It has also come to light that a minor explosion took place in the toy town, 70 km from here, on July 24 last (Thursday). No one was injured in the blast, which resembled the Bangalore explosions. Explosive material placed in cement pots were used in Bangalore and Channapatna. The blast occurred at 11th cross in Kuvempunagar area of the town and close to the spot where buses ferrying foreign tourists generally stop.

The DG&IGP, R Sri Kumar, and his senior colleagues rushed to the town on Saturday night and personally took stock of the situation. IGP Kamal Pant said that “the material seized, about seven to eight kg, prima facie appears similar to the ones used in the Bangalore blasts”.Home Minister V S Acharya also confirmed the seizure.
Asked whether the Channapatna incident was a sort of rehearsal for the Bangalore blasts, Pant said it was too early to come to any conclusion. “We are investigating all angles.”

However, sources said that the Bangalore blasts and Channapatna explosion were the handiwork of same people.The perpetrators were believed to have planted the bomb in Channapatna on Thursday last before leaving to Bangalore in a green omni vehicle. They were said to have planted bombs at Nayandahalli, Madiwala, Adugodi and R R M Roy Road on Thursday itself.The Channapatna bomb was timed to go off the same day, while the Bangalore explosives went off the next day.

Crackdown on?
Reports from Channapatna and neighbouring Ramanagara, meanwhile, said that the police have launched intensive combing operations in both the towns. Locals and clergy are being taken into confidence by the police, who are rounding up newcomers, particularly those from North India.