Man dies in cab bomb blast after abducting woman from Bengaluru's Bhovi Colony

On Saturday, a 23-year-old delivery executive died in a cab explosion near Jogihalli in Tumakuru's Sira taluk after detonating a crude bomb during a botched attempt to abduct his estranged lover from her home in Bhovi Colony, Bengaluru. The deceased, identified as Nagendra, set off the explosive inside the vehicle after the victim managed to escape the car with the help of the cab driver.

According to investigators, Nagendra and the victim, Ramya, were school classmates from Ankola. While Nagendra dropped out after Class 10, Ramya studied medical lab technology and secured a job at the Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics in Bengaluru. Their relationship soured after Ramya declined to marry him.

Around 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nagendra booked an Uber cab to Ankola and went to Ramya's residence in Bhovi Colony, which falls under the Siddapura police station limits. He forced her into the vehicle. Ramya's roommate witnessed the abduction, took a photograph of the cab, and lodged a complaint at the Siddapura police station at around 1:30 p.m.

Siddapura police tracked the cab and contacted the driver, Praveen, instructing him to stop the vehicle immediately. Realising that the police had been alerted, Nagendra argued with Ramya and attacked her with a knife.

Alarmed by the struggle, Praveen pulled the car over near Jogihalli. Despite suffering knife injuries, Ramya managed to escape from the vehicle. Praveen snatched the knife from Nagendra and threw it away.

Nagendra then pulled a crude bomb from his bag. Though Praveen managed to seize the first explosive and discard it, Nagendra refused to exit the vehicle. Ramya warned the driver that Nagendra had more bombs, prompting Praveen to flee the scene. Nagendra then detonated a second crude bomb inside the car, killing himself.

Ramya, who sustained knife wounds to her head and hand, was admitted to the District Hospital in Tumakuru and is reported to be out of danger.

Tumakuru Superintendent of Police Ashok K V stated that the cab was completely charred by the time police and fire force personnel reached the scene. Forensic experts have collected samples from the vehicle to investigate the source of the blast. Police have recorded statements from both Ramya and the driver. A case has been registered at the Kallambella police station in Tumakuru.