Operation Madani: How Bengaluru cops nabbed 2008 serial blast accused

2008 serial blasts in Bengaluru h rocked entire city and re were alarm bells ringing across state. A total of 9 blasts were reported on July 25, 2008 leaving 20 injured and 1 de. blasts started off on Hosur ro to Nayandahalli on Mysuru ro creating panic among residents. se low-intensity blasts h mostly occurred in crowded areas.

Following incident, Bengaluru cops acted swiftly in nabbing accused but key conspirator Mani remained elusive for over 2 years before he was arrested from Kerala on August 17, 2010.

2008 Bengaluru blasts were to destabilise BJP govt in Karnataka, says ex-DGP

In conversation with Republic, former-DGP (Director General of Police) of Karnataka, Shankar Bidari, n Commissioner of Bengaluru city spoke about operation Mani which led to apprehension of accused. He pointed out about specific evidence found against Mani, which led to his arrest, saying, "During course of investigation, we came across evidence in Kodagu district, which proved that he was key conspirator as accused h carried out last blast on Mysuru ro and n y h fled to Kodagu via Mysuru."

Talking about findings in initial stages, Shankar Bidari said, " only thing we knew in preliminary course of investigation was that blasts took from Hosur ro to Mysuru ro and we got to know that accused h come from Mysuru. We were able to trace accused and central agencies assisted us as well."

"We filed chargesheet in case in 2010, but we feel s that all accused are under trials for 13 years. I want to bring this to attention of judiciary that swift action has to be taken in case," former-top cop asserted. 

Explaining about Mani's role in blasts, he said, "Mani h motivated remnants of SIMI group to carry out se blasts, but he h no link with terror outfit Lashkar-E-Taiba and he was nabbed from Kerala. Mani was one who h instigated ors to carry out explosions. He h planned and plotted all this."

Revealing political motive behind explosions, he pointed, "se bombings happened in 2008 when BJP government came to power and it was done in a bid to destabilize government here by creating panic, confusion and chaos."

Former-Commissioner of Police, Bhaskar Rao speaking to Republic stated, "Gelatin sticks were used for attack, but even though y were low intensity blasts, bombs were placed in crowded areas to maximize damage. ir motive was to spre terror by claiming as many lives as possible."

Gopal Hosur, who was n ditional Commissioner of Police and investigating officer said, "An LET operative Nazir h confessed that Mani was mastermind behind links. This was instrumental for us in picking him up from Kerala and h complete support of Kerala police. We produced him before local magistrate re and later brought him back to Bengaluru."

Interestingly charge sheet submitted in 2010 mentioned Mani as accused number- 31, but judicial procedure is on for around 13 years. Even as victims of bomb blasts wait for justice, Mani gets a hero's reception in Kerala after he was released on bail.