"It wasn't an accident, but an act of terror to cause serious damage," the state police chief confirmed on Sunday as they fortified the security in India's Karnataka state.
The CCTV footage of the incident that is doing the rounds on the internet shows the autorickshaw going up in flames after a minor explosion.
N. Shashi Kumar, Commissioner of Mangaluru City Police suspects that the bomb was in a bag carried by the passenger riding in the auto.
Police have also recovered a pressure cooker with wires and batteries used in the autorickshaw blast.
Police recover pressure cooker with wires & batteries used in autorickshaw blast in Mangaluru city in India's Karnataka state
© Photo : Twitter/@bolebaba33
Locals have been urged not to panic while state police and central agencies investigate the case.
"We've called the Special team and the [Forensic Science Lab] team to verify the reasons behind the incident... There is no need for people to panic. There is no need to create confusion and spread rumors via social media. I will share information - whatever it is - as soon as I have it," Kumar told local media.