No suicide bomber involved, a suspect’s sketch to be released soon

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Mumbai, Jul 16, 2011: Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad today ruled out the involvement of a suicide bomber in Wednesday’s three blasts in the city and said a probable suspect’s sketch would be prepared by tonight.

"Investigations done so far and visit to the sites by forensic experts and investigators suggest that there was no suicide bomber," said Maharashtra ATS chief Rakesh Maria.

 

Based on eyewitness’ accounts, a sketch of a probable suspect would be prepared by tonight and circulated among the investigators, Maria said. "The experts have retrieved certain portions of metallic container which was used to store and carry the explosives," he added.

He also said ammonium nitrate, crude oil and digital timers were used in the explosive devices.

Teams of Maharashtra ATS and crime branch had gone to various places in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, West Bengal, Andra Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan as part of the probe into the blasts, Maria said, adding they were also taking the help of police of respective states and the central agencies.

Nineteen people were killed in the three blasts and over 130 were injured. Maria said some accused currently lodged in Madhya Pradesh had been questioned in a bid to get the leads.

"(Members of) various modules arrested in the past are being questioned (to see) if they can help in the solving the blast case," the ATS chief said, adding there were some good leads and the investigation was moving in the right directions.

Nobody had been detained so far, he said. He said some of the CCTV footages were "grainy" and in a day or two, investigators will be able to get better images from the CCTV cameras recovered from the blast sites, he said.


Mumbai blasts toll rises to 19
The toll in the Mumbai triple blasts rose to 19 with a victim succumbing to his injuries at Saifee Hospital early Saturday, an official said.

The victim has been identified as Babulal Das, the official from Birihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Disaster Control Centre told IANS.

Das died around 3 a.m. On Friday evening, another victim, Avinash Tanka, 24, had succumbed to his injuries.

ATS to grill IM members lodged in Gujarat, Karnataka jails
The Maharashtra ATS is likely to question alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) members lodged in Karnataka and Gujarat jails in connection with Wednesday’s serial blasts in the city.

The ATS has also sought assistance from Kolkata Police asking them to verify if any suspects had travelled to Mumbai from that city and subsequently went underground after the blasts, as part of its probe into the triple bombings, that left 19 people dead and injured over 130.
"A police team from Karnataka has come to Mumbai to help us. An ATS team from Maharashtra will also go to Karnataka and Ahmedabad to question the IM members lodged in the jails there," said a police official.

The ATS is likely to grill an alleged IM member Danish Riyaz in Ahmedabad who had been arrested there in connection with 2008 serial blasts in Gujarat.

In Karnataka, police will also question those who are believed to have an association with family members of Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, the founder members of Indian Mujahideen.


Courtesy: Deccan Herald