Investigators on Tuesday rubbished reports that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had parted ways with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in the probe into the Mumbai blasts case. “We are all investigating the blasts together. In fact, we hold a joint meeting everyday,” a senior officer, who is part of the investigation, said here on Tuesday.
ATS chief Rakesh Maria on Tuesday denied reports about suspicion on six newly recruited terrorists who might have carried out the blasts.
“No figure as to the number of accused involved can be stated right now. Only when an arrest is effected would we be able to arrive at the conclusion about the exact number of persons involved,” he told The Hindu .
Certain sections of the media had reported that investigators believed that at least six new terrorists could have been involved in placing the explosives.
Investigators have now been able to eliminate the involvement of many suspects and are in the process of pinpointing the role of one terror organisation. “To talk of any specific group at this stage would be premature. There is one suspicion, but we cannot name it,” one officer said.
The sleuths have also been able to get some leads from the interrogation of suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Danish Riyaz, who is presently lodged in a prison in Ahmedabad.
Sketch handed over
Meanwhile, the sketch prepared on the basis of eye-witness accounts has already been handed over to the core investigation team, comprising a handful of ATS and Mumbai Crime Branch officers. “We don't think we will release the sketch to the media,” an officer said.
The sketch of an accused in the Zaveri Bazaar blast has been made with the help of CCTV images, and eyewitness inputs. Asked about the role of the person in the sketch, a senior officer said: “He is somebody we are interested in.”
Investigators denied reports that different sketches of different accused have been made. “There is only one sketch,” an officer said.
Local studios approached
The investigators have approached local film labs and studios for enhancing the images of the CCTV footage. “They are giving amazing results,” an officer said. The local studios are known to have been involved in many Hollywood projects.
Even RDX and low explosives could have been an ingredient in the explosives, investigators believe. Mr. Maria said preliminary findings pointed to use of fuel oil and ammonium nitrate. Officials said the chances of failure of ammonium nitrate were quite high because it caught moisture quickly.
“It is not out of the blue to think that some boosters may have been used in the blasts. It didn't cause any damage. But substances like RDX, TNT are very volatile and can go off very easily. A small quantity may have been used to blow up a large amount of ammonium nitrate,” an officer speculated.
Expert opinion
Forensic experts said nearly two to five kilograms of ammonium nitrate was used at each of the three locations. Investigators have not yet been able to find the timer and the battery used.
Asked if all the mangled scooters at the sites had been verified, officials said the process was on. “The scooters angle doesn't seem relevant,” an official said.
