Similarity found in explosives used: Kharge

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 10. Some similarity has been noticed in the explosives used in the attack against a church in Wadi in Gulbarga district about a month ago and the one at Royapuram, here on Sunday night, according to a preliminary opinion of forensic experts.

The Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjuna Kharge, who disclosed this to presspersons who met him here today, said this could be confirmed only after detailed examination of the detonated explosives by forensic experts who had collected samples of detonated explosives in Wadi, Hubli and in the city.

Mr. Kharge, who visited the Royapuram church on Monday morning with the Director General of Police, the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Forensic Laboratory, said there was suspicion of involvement of local people in the attack in Bangalore and in Hubli a few days ago, going by the way the explosives were planted at the premises of the two churches.

As far as Sunday's attack was concerned, Mr. Kharge said the compound wall behind the church was so high that it could not be scaled by anyone. Moreover, there was a congregation at the premises. The attack in such a situation was an indication of involvement of local people. The Commissioner of Police had been asked to a constitute a special team to make a detailed investigation.

The intention behind the attacks, he felt, was to create a scare among the minority community and to bring a bad name to the Government. When it was pointed out that some Central leaders had expressed similar feeling that the attack on churches in various parts of the country was intended to destabilise the Government at the Centre, Mr. Kharge said it was for the Centre to investigate the attack in Goa, Hyderabad and other places.

As far as the State was concerned, he said there was not a single incident of the type earlier when it went through elections to choose members from Parliament to gram panchayats, but that they had taken place now pointed to efforts at destabilising the Government. Obviously, there was political intention behind it.

Asked why one particular religion was targetted, Mr. Kharge said those who were behind the attacks might target others one by one. He did not say any particular organisation was behind it. This would be known after the investigation was completed.

Condemning the incidents as an act of cowards, Mr. Kharge said the Government was prepared to refer the Royapuram incident to the CoD. The Government had offered to get the damage to the church repaired. The Deputy Commissioner of Bangalore Urban District, had been instructed in this behalf, but the church authorities had to agree to it.

Mr. Kharge said police would keep a watch over all places of worship. Those concerned should also engage their own staff to maintain vigil. Public cooperation was necessary.

The Minister said police were examining if there was any link between the explosion in the church and the explosion within half-an-hour in a Maruti van bearing Goa registration in the City. Certain documents from the vehicle had been seized.Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, who was addressing a seminar in Bangalore on Monday morning, said the Government was likely to order a comprehensive CoD inquiry into the attacks on churches in Wadi, Hubli and Bangalore.

The Director-General of Police, Mr. C. Dinakar, told TheHindu that 400 Home Guards would be requisitioned to guard 200 churches in and around Bangalore. Initially, the Home Guards would be put on duty for a fortnight, he added.

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Section  : Southern States
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