Bangalore : A blast near the BJP’s office in Bangalore this morning has injured eight policemen and eight civilians, said the head of the Karnataka police, L Pachau. A senior police official said the explosion was “a motorcycle blast.”  

Senior officials said they do not have information yet on the sort of explosives used.

Because elections in Karnataka are scheduled for May 5, a police van was parked near the BJP office, and the policemen who were injured were on duty today, he said.

Two teen girls are among those hurt.

The blast took place at 10. 30 am near the BJP office in the Malleshwaram area of Bangalore, a crowded residential neighbourhood.

“The injuries are not very serious and nobody is critically injured, said Mr Pachau.  “Two vans, a motorcycle, a scooter and a car were damaged ,” he said.

RPN Singh, the country’s junior Home Minister, urged, “Don’t pay heed to rumours”.  He said, “The Home Ministry will provide any assistance that the Karnataka Police needs.”

“One only hopes that it is an accident and not an act by terrorists or political activists,” said BJP leader Balbir Punj to news agency ANI.