Mangaluru : Karnataka DGP Praveen Sood  on twitter Sunday confirmed the explosion in coastal Karnataka mangalore in  the moving autorikshaw was not accidental, but an act of terror.

“It’s confirmed now. The blast is not accidental but an ACT OF TERROR with intention to cause serious damage,” Sood tweeted. The Karnataka police is probing deep into it along with central agencies, he added.

Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra also confirmed that the incident was an act of terror in a video message.

He said, “Yesterday afternoon in Mangaluru, an explosion was reported in the moving autorickshaw.  Injured  driver  in the mishap is undergoing treatment, and not in a position to speak now. After the investigation, the Karnataka Police confirmed it as an act of terror.”

Full details  of explosion  will be known in a day or two, the minister said and suspected that there could be involvement of  terrorist organisations.

 Home minister Araga Jnanendra also said that probe also has been initiated in similar incidents that took place in the coastal region of the state in the last few years. “The truth will be revealed soon,” the minister added.

 CCTV footage posted on social media yesterday  had gone viral. The video purportedly depicts the autorickshaw going in flames and then exploding, resulting in both the driver and the passenger who was carrying a bag suffered burn injuries and were admitted to hospital in mangaluru.

Yesterday, Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar had appealed to the people not to panic as the initial probe suggested that the autorickshaw exploded after catching fire.

When asked was it a terror act, he had said: “We don’t know anything prima facie. However we have sought the help of the FSL and special team to verify the blast material at the spot.”