Bodh Gaya blasts: NIA zeroes in on cylinder factories
NEW DELHI: Investigators may be close to finding the source of the cylinders used in the Bodh Gaya blasts. National Investigation Agency (NIA) has come across certain factories in Bihar that manufacture similar sized cylinders used to make the 13 bombs planted in and around the Mahabodhi temple complex.
Indian detectives are checking factories which manufacture cylinders similar to those used in the Bodh Gaya blast
The agency is now trying to trace the factory from which the cylinders may have originated and the person who sold it to the terrorists.
Empty LPG cylinders of 2kg capacity were filled with a cocktail of ammonium nitrate, sulphur, potassium and shrapnel and then connected with a detonator, battery and lotus brand clocks to make the bombs used in the Bodh Gaya blasts.
"There are some factories we have come across that make such cylinders. But further investigation is needed to reach the actual
Had he been involved he would have gone for mass casualty and not bothered about just harming structures. He would have placed bombs more judiciously and timed them well
source," said an NIA officer adding that a similar search for the clocks used in the blast was also on.
Sources insisted that the agency has got something significant out of the CCTV footage and forensic science help is being obtained to sharpen them. "The footage is very bad but some suspicious activity before the blasts around the blast sites is visible," another officer added.
Interestingly, NIA investigators have learnt that Maoists have used cylinder bombs identical to those used in Bodh Gaya blasts in parts of Jharkhand. "Maoists often use such bombs, state police has told us. However, this does not mean that it's a Naxal job. Anyone can copy anyone's bomb. Just as Bodh Gaya bombs having similarity of circuit with the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts does not mean that Indian Mujahideen executed the attack," a senior NIA officer said.
Sources said circumstances also showed that it might not have been an IM opera-
There are some factories we have come across that make such cylinders. But further investigation is needed to reach the actual source
tion nor involved its Indian operations chief Ahmed Zarar Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal – a highly-motivated jihadi and an expert bomb maker.
"Had he been involved he would have gone for mass casualty and not bothered about just harming structures. He would have placed bombs more judiciously and timed them well. However, it is too early to rule anything out in this case," the officer said.
NIA on Thursday released Vinod Mistri, whose voter ID card was found near the blast site, and Dashrath Yadav as nothing incriminating was found on the duo. (Times of India)