National Investigation Agency to probe 2014 Bengaluru IED blast

NEW DELHI: NIA today took over the probe into last December's IED blast at a busy road in Bengaluru in which a woman was killed.

A case under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosives Substances Act has been registered at NIA office in Hyderabad, officials said.

The move comes following an order by Union Home Ministry asking National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe the case, they said.

Suspected militants had on December 28 wrapped the improvised explosive device (IED) in a plastic bag and placed it in a bushy plant outside a famous restaurant in the heart of the city.

The restaurant is close to the fashionable Brigade Road and M G Road, dotted with bars and restaurants with teeming crowd on weekends.

Following the blast, a case was registered at Cubbon Park police station in Bengaluru. Karnataka police had later claimed that it had busted a terror module of banned Indian Mujahideen and their role in the Bengaluru blast was being probed.

Initial leads had, however, suggested the role of banned SIMI behind the attack, the officials said.