Parbhani, Guj detentions bring fresh leads

MUMBAI UNDER ATTACK

S Ahmed Ali TNN

Mumbai: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has reportedly made a major breakthrough in the 13/7 blasts case after detaining three suspects, two of them from north Maharashtra and one from Gujarat. Around 11 people may have procured material for the bombs, and then assembled, transported and planted it. While senior ATS officials and crime branch officers were tightlipped, sources said investigators are closer to solving the case. In a separate development, PTI reported that Union home secretary R K Singh said that there was “important progress” in the case and the probe was on the right track.

Twenty people were killed on July 13 in three blasts at Zaveri Bazar, Opera House and Dadar in Mumbai. The three suspects are believed to be members of the outlawed Indian Mujahideen (IM). Two suspects are from Parbhani, on the outskirts of Maharashtra, and one from a town near Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

ATS officials said they have detained some people on suspicion and are interrogating them to draw a final conclusion. Interestingly, sources said the ATS called off its daily meeting on Thursday. The meeting is held with ATS, crime branch and National Investigation Agency officials. ATS chief Rakesh Maria was unavailable for comment. Officials said they were interrogating the suspects on where they were a week before the blasts, the day of the blasts and after the attacks. “A relative of one suspect has come to Mumbai and is camping near the ATS offices to defend him,” said an officer.

Police suspect the perpetrators assembled the bombs in rented premises close to south Mumbai. In 2006, IM members had ‘assembled’ the 11/7 train bombs in a rented slum rehabilitation authority (SRA) flat at Sewri. “We have concrete leads and are confident of cracking the case,” said an officer. Gujarat has been on the investigators’ lens in the case. Six of the 21 IM members held by the Mumbai crime branch in 2008 said they wanted to take revenge for the post-Godhra riots.

In 2003, the crime branch held many youths from Aurangabad, Parbhani and Jalna for the 2002 Ghatkopar blast. But eight were acquitted. Khwaja Yunus, allegedly killed in police custody, was also from Parbhani. See also Pages 4, 5

Police hunt for perfume bombs I ntelligence agents sent an alert on Wednesday that new bombs could come in the form of perfume bottles and target senior officials and dignitaries. The alert was sent to police stations, crime branch units and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) offices in the city. The alert said: “The bomb may be sent in the form of modified bottles/containers as gifts. The senior officials and the dignitaries may be targeted. So be careful and look for such modified bottles.” The alert added that the perfume bomb could contain improvised explosive devices. “If it’s pushed to spray on the body, it may explode,” apolice officer said. City police officers said that this is the first time that they were hunting for a perfume bomb. —Mateen Hafeez

The Times of India, July 22, 2011