Nationwide hunt for culprits

NEW DELHI: In what could lead investigators to the perpetrators of the July 13 Mumbai serial blasts, the owner of the scooter in which one of the bombs was planted has been identified. The National Investigation Agency has now launched a nationwide manhunt.
Two days after the blasts, experts were scrutinising footage from 36 CCTVs and an e-mail to ascertain if there were cross-border links to the blasts.
Union Home Secretary R K Singh on Friday said: “A scooter in which one of the bombs was planted has been identified.” The scooter was found at Zaveri Bazar, where the explosion killed six people and injured 50. Investigators are hopeful that the development could provide vital clues towards unravelling the identity of the terrorists.
Meanwhile, 11 CDs of footage from the CCTVs in and around the blast sites, are being studied by investigators. “The CCTV footage is being scrutinised. Now, all the faces and all the people who appeared therein have to be identified by the local people to see whether they are locals...or outsiders. So that process is on. It is voluminous. There are about 11 CDs which have to be gone through,” said Singh.
Locals will be asked to identify if the suspected persons were locals or outsiders. The sleuths will then run the photos of suspects through a database of terrorists and those with criminal records.
Sources said that India is likely to ask for assistance from the United States for investigations into the explosions during the second round of India-US strategic dialogue that is to be held next week.
US Secretary of state Hillary Clinton will arrive in Delhi for a three-day visit on July 18 to chair the strategic dialogue along with Indian counterpart External Affairs Minister S M Krishna the next day.
Clinton will be leading a 25-member delegation, which includes Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

Posted in: India News