Deadly Attack, Dangerous Narratives — Rameshwaram Cafe Blast Avoided A Potential Cover-Up

On March 01, Friday, an IED blast injured ten people in Bengaluru's popular eatery Rameshwaram Cafe.

The Whitefield outlet was crowded around lunchtime, when a man wearing a hat and a mask placed a bag near the counter, and a few minutes later, it exploded, creating havoc. Initially, some people online suggested that it may have been a blast because of a gas cylinder. This may very well have been the case, but in the case of possible acts of terror, the worst is always assumed first.

What caused the explosion? Who did it? What was the motive behind the attack?

While the details of the blast are being verified, several supporters of the Congress party were attempting to pass it off as a 'cylinder blast' which merits no investigation. Further, the owners and the hotel management were accused of having no 'safety protocols' and failing to help the victims. The first wake-up call came from Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya who suggested that it may not have been an accidental gas cylinder blast, as media reports suggested.

The manager of the Whitefield outlet of Rameshwaram Cafe, apparently confirmed that a bag was left by a customer, as a result of which, the blast took place. Over the next few hours, this visual would be confirmed in the CCTV footage obtained by the security agencies in Bengaluru.

Before that, there have been many narratives which were tried out — Was this a cylinder blast? Was Tejasvi Surya attempting to meddle with the investigation? Was it a "business rivalry" that prompted the attack? It seems that the spokespersons from the establishment in Karnataka have only one modus operandi — deflect, distract and defame someone else.

Bengaluru's Commissioner of Police had to put out a statement asking the media to be sensitive while covering the case, after all this.

A journalist also quoted an eyewitness and stated that the management was "not taking any responsibility to shift the injured". The 'eyewitness' also suggests that the cafe was "flouting all safety norms".

Three questions —

One, did you expect an open cafe, with outdoor sitting and standing arrangements, to have a metal scanner, private security and have "safety norms" that could prevent a potential act of terror? This is the duty of the state to do so. The police work for the people. It is their responsibility to ensure safety, law and order.

Two, how can the management, or any team member, potentially come up to save others when they are also the victims in the first place? It is said that a few of the injured belong to the management. Their lives matter too. During an attack, instincts work very differently. People think on their feet. Those poor guys deserve no blame. None, whatsoever.

Three, are you for real?

In the past, journalists have been criticised for being insensitive to security concerns while covering acts of terror, conflicts and wars alike. This has happened in the case of Kargil War in 1999, the 26/11 Taj attack in Mumbai and many more incidents where journalists have revealed the location of the people trapped inside. Of course, they get away with saying anything they want.

The Rameshwaram Cafe episode is another reminder of how the security agencies, including the police or the NIA, should be allowed to do their job first. In the process, if the media truly wants to help them, they can do one thing — be sensitive in covering such issues or shut up. That'll do everyone a pretty big favour, to be honest.

I went through the news reports, and most news channels and publications were busy describing what the accused ordered — Rava Idli, or Idli?

On the other hand, journalists are being targeted for pointing the timeline out and questioning the intent of the Government of Karnataka. After all, academics who support separatist sentiments were invited by the government. There was a pro-Pakistan slogan being allegedly shouted in front of a sitting Member of Parliament in India's Upper House. Law and order has been deteriorating in the city, and the police have unfolded evidence of terror plots being hatched a few months ago.

There has been a clear pattern. There have been red flags.

Either you are colour-blind, or we are getting this wrong. There must be scrutiny on the press, and the organised attempts to cover up this whole attack as a 'cylinder blast'. This sets a very wrong precedent. IT cell can have their field day in politics, but not on these serious matters.