Four arrested after Bengaluru abduction car blast exposes crude bomb network

An investigation into a fatal car explosion on National Highway-48 in Tumakuru’s Sira subdivision, which followed the knifepoint abduction of a woman from Bengaluru, has led to the arrest of four individuals and the disruption of an illegal crude country bomb supply chain. The abduction and explosion occurred on June 27, while the subsequent police investigation and arrests in Uttara Kannada district unfolded over the following week.

On June 27, 30-year-old Nagendra allegedly abducted a woman from Bengaluru at knifepoint in an Uber cab. As the vehicle was passing through the Sira subdivision on National Highway-48, Nagendra threatened the driver and attempted to attack the woman with a knife, claiming he was carrying crude bombs.

This prompted the driver to stop the vehicle near a roadside dhaba. The driver and the woman immediately fled the cab. A passing two-wheeler rider rescued the woman and took her away from the spot. Inside the cab, the driver managed to throw one crude bomb out of the vehicle after Nagendra tried to ignite it. However, Nagendra ignited a second bomb inside the car, triggering an explosion that killed him on the spot.

A Special Investigation Team led by the Sira Sub-Division police launched an extensive probe, tracing Nagendra's movements to Bengaluru, his home village, and the survivor's village. On Monday night, a joint operation by the Tumakuru and Uttara Kannada police arrested 64-year-old George Niklov Fernandes in Chandavar village, Uttara Kannada. Fernandes is accused of supplying the crude bombs to Nagendra.

The investigation further revealed that Fernandes had also supplied explosives to three other individuals. Follow-up operations by the Ankola police led to the arrests of Narayan Gowda and Nagaraj Gowda of Honnalli village, and Sandeep Gowda of Shiragunji village in Ankola taluk.

During questioning, Narayan and Nagaraj admitted to storing the country-made bombs for illegal fishing. Following Nagendra's death, they had hidden three crude bombs in a nearby forest. Police recovered and seized the explosives. A case has been registered at the Ankola police station under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.