BENGALURU: A 28-year-old man was burnt to death after allegedly triggering an explosion while inside a cab on a highway in Tumakuru district Saturday. Shortly before he triggered the blast, he had stabbed his female partner who was with him in the same vehicle, reportedly saying “Let’s die together”.The woman and the cab driver managed to escape from the vehicle moments before the blast, police said. The deceased, T Nagendra of Ankola in Uttara Kannada district, is suspected to have carried crude bombs in what police believe was the culmination of a relationship dispute.Tumakuru SP Ashok KV said forensic experts were examining the scene to determine the nature of the explosive and establish the exact cause of the blast.
According to preliminary investigations, Nagendra and U Ramya Nayak, 24, had known each other for six years. Police said he had been pressuring Ramya, an assistant operation theatre technician at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital in Bengaluru, to marry him. She had reportedly distanced herself from him in recent months. On Saturday, Nagendra reportedly went to Ramya’s rented accommodation in Byrasandra near Jayanagar in Bengaluru.Nagendra threatened Ramya with knife to take cab with him, says roommateAn argument broke out between Nagendra and Ramya at the latter’s rented accommodation. Ramya’s roommate Nayana later told police that Nagendra threatened Ramya with a knife, saying he would kill both of them if she refused to accompany him.Friend alerted policeNagendra then booked a cab to Ankola, and the pair left Bengaluru around 11am. Fearing for Ramya’s safety, Nayana, meanwhile, alerted police, who tracked the cab through CCTV footage and contacted the driver, Praveen. When officers learnt the vehicle was nearing Kallambella in Sira taluk, about 90km from Bengaluru, they instructed the driver to stop at the nearest police station or highway patrol.Police said Nagendra overheard the conversation, became agitated and allegedly told Ramya, “Let’s die together”. He then pulled out what are being suspected to be crude bombs and stabbed Ramya with a knife.Forensic experts to determine nature of explosivesAs the commotion continued inside the vehicle, Praveen pulled up by the roadside, and he and Ramya managed to flee. Seconds later, an explosion ripped through the car, killing Nagendra on the spot and setting the vehicle ablaze. Ramya sustained injuries in the attack and is undergoing treatment.Tumakuru SP Ashok KV said forensic experts were examining the scene to determine the nature of the explosive and establish the exact cause of the blast.
