Tumakuru car bomb blast: Jilted lover dies after kidnapping woman on NH-48
Synopsis
A man allegedly abducted his former partner in Bengaluru, drove her onto NH-48, and detonated a country-made bomb inside a cab after she escaped — killing himself and leaving a second live explosive at the scene. The cab driver's differing account and the unresolved question of how the explosives were procured have deepened a joint police investigation spanning two districts.
Key Takeaways
Nagendra , 30, a native of Ankola, Karwar district , allegedly died after detonating a country-made bomb inside a cab on NH-48 near Kallambella, Tumakuru , on 27 June .
The alleged victim, Ramya , a laboratory technician at Rajiv Gandhi University, Bengaluru , managed to escape the moving vehicle before the blast.
Cab driver Praveen also survived; his account differs slightly from the initial police version and is being verified.
A second live country-made bomb was recovered from the scene; police are investigating how the explosives were procured.
Siddapura Police (Bengaluru) and Kallambella Police (Tumakuru) are conducting a joint investigation; SP Ashok Venkat inspected the site.
A 30-year-old man allegedly died after detonating a country-made bomb inside a cab on National Highway-48 near Kallambella in Karnataka's Tumakuru district on Saturday, 27 June, following the alleged abduction of a woman he had reportedly been in a relationship with for nearly eight years. The woman and the cab driver narrowly escaped the blast; police subsequently recovered a second live country-made bomb from the scene.
Who Was Involved
The deceased has been identified as Nagendra, a native of Ankola in Karwar district. The woman, identified as Ramya, works as a laboratory technician at Rajiv Gandhi University in Bengaluru. According to police, the two — both from the Ankola region — had been in a relationship for close to eight years before Ramya allegedly rejected Nagendra's marriage proposal over personal differences.
How the Incident Unfolded
Police said Nagendra allegedly hired a cab through Uber and went to the paying guest accommodation where Ramya was staying in Bengaluru, from where he forcibly took her away. A friend of Ramya's, who witnessed the incident, lodged a missing person complaint with Siddapura Police Station in Bengaluru.
During the journey along NH-48, an argument reportedly broke out between the two. Nagendra allegedly assaulted Ramya and struck her on the head. Ramya managed to jump out of the moving vehicle, prompting the cab driver — identified as Praveen — to stop and assist her.
Nagendra then allegedly locked himself inside the car and detonated a country-made bomb, killing himself on the spot. The force of the explosion completely destroyed the vehicle.
The Cab Driver's Account
Praveen has provided a version that differs slightly from the initial police account, and investigators say his statements are being verified. According to Praveen, the journey was uneventful until they reached Kallambella, when he received a phone call from Ankola informing him that Ramya had allegedly been kidnapped.
He told police that Nagendra attacked Ramya with a knife during the altercation. Praveen said he stopped the vehicle and helped Ramya escape by sending her away on a passing motorcycle. Ramya reportedly warned him that Nagendra was carrying bombs.
Praveen further claimed that when he approached the car, Nagendra was holding a country-made bomb. He allegedly managed to snatch one explosive from Nagendra and throw it away, after which Nagendra detonated a second bomb, causing his death.
Police Response and Investigation
Tumakuru Superintendent of Police Ashok Venkat visited the site and inspected the scene. Officials from Siddapura Police in Bengaluru and Kallambella Police in Tumakuru are jointly probing the case, with teams from Bengaluru also deployed at the spot.
Police have recovered the unexploded bomb and launched a separate investigation into how Nagendra procured the explosives. No official detailed statement has been issued yet, and the inquiry is ongoing.
What Happens Next
Investigators are expected to reconcile the differing accounts of the cab driver and other witnesses, while the explosives procurement angle adds a layer of criminal inquiry beyond the abduction and assault. The joint investigation by two police jurisdictions signals the cross-district complexity of the case.
Point of View
And the inadequacy of existing mechanisms to intervene when a missing person complaint is filed. A complaint was lodged at Siddapura Police Station in Bengaluru while Nagendra was already on the highway with Ramya — yet no intercept occurred. The divergence between the cab driver's account and the police's initial version also raises questions about witness handling in high-pressure, multi-jurisdictional cases. The explosives procurement angle, if pursued rigorously, could reveal a supply chain that extends well beyond this single tragedy.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Tumakuru car bomb blast on 27 June?
A 30-year-old man named Nagendra allegedly abducted a woman named Ramya from her Bengaluru accommodation and drove her along NH-48. After Ramya escaped the moving vehicle near Kallambella in Tumakuru district, Nagendra locked himself inside the cab and detonated a country-made bomb, killing himself on the spot. A second live bomb was recovered from the scene.
Who are Nagendra and Ramya?
Nagendra was a 30-year-old native of Ankola in Karwar district, Karnataka. Ramya, also from the Ankola region, works as a laboratory technician at Rajiv Gandhi University in Bengaluru. According to police, the two had been in a relationship for nearly eight years before Ramya reportedly rejected Nagendra's marriage proposal.
How did Ramya escape?
Ramya managed to jump out of the moving vehicle during an argument on NH-48, according to police. Cab driver Praveen stopped and assisted her; he claims he helped her escape on a passing motorcycle after Nagendra allegedly attacked her with a knife.
What is the status of the police investigation?
Officials from Siddapura Police in Bengaluru and Kallambella Police in Tumakuru are jointly investigating the case. Police are also probing how Nagendra obtained the country-made explosives. No official detailed statement has been issued yet.
Why do the cab driver's and police's accounts differ?
Cab driver Praveen's version includes details — such as a knife attack and his role in helping Ramya escape on a motorcycle — that differ slightly from the initial police account. Investigators say his statements are being verified as part of the ongoing inquiry.
