Mahabodhi blasts: NIA releases sketch of suspect

Mangalore Today/NDTV

New Delhi, July 16: Nearly ten days after the serial blasts at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bihar, the National Investigation Agency has now released the sketch of one of the suspects. Reports say that the sketch has been released based on the eyewitness account and the CCTV footage is being examined on the basis of this.

Sources say the CCTV footage is still not very clear. It is not clear if the suspect is an insider but he is seen wearing the Buddhist ceremonial robe in the CCTV footage.

 

Sources say that the suspect has been seen the CCTV footage of 5 am on the day of the blast. Investigators say the camera closest to the blast site has not been of much use. It was the camera that was at a distance from the blast site that captured the suspect.

Several eyewitness claimed that the suspect was present inside the temple premises when the blast took place. Members of the cleaning agency and security agency Cobra, a private organisation, were questioned and based on their description the sketch was prepared.

Ten blasts had rocked the Mahabodhi temple on July 7, leaving two monks injured. The NIA is also looking into more CCTV footage of the blast site and checking hotel registers for suspicious entries. The agency had also announced a Rs 10 lakh reward for anyone providing clues leading to the Mahabodhi temple bombers.