Eyewitness claims to have seen them near the blast site with identical bags minutes before the bomb went off
Eyewitness claims to have seen them near the blast site with identical bags minutes before the bomb went off
Two days after the blast at the German Bakery in Pune, investigators have stumbled upon an eyewitness who is believed to have seen two suspicious young men in the area. The duo had identical haversacks, and was hanging around the bakery, minutes before the bomb went off, killing nine and injuring around 60 tourists.
Another eyewitness, a US-based journalist, backs this statement.
The police are banking on the eyewitness account, as recovered CCTV images were of very little use. Though they are tight-lipped about any developments, sketches of the suspected youth have been prepared and are being shared with other agencies.
No breakthrough
"We've yet to make a major breakthrough, since we are still waiting for forensic reports," remarked Additional Inspector General Rashmi Shukla.
Investigating agencies have also questioned Mohammed Peerbhoy, an accused in the July 26, 2008, serial blasts in Ahmedabad. They suspect that Peerbhoy may be aware of the people involved in the Pune blast.
Sources say it is very likely that all the modules have trained together in Lashkar-e-Taiba camps in Pakistan.
National Investigating Agency officials have learnt that the IM has disbanded its publicity wing, which earlier led to their arrests after an e-mail was traced by Intelligence Bureau sleuths. This could be a reason why they have not yet made any claims more than 60 hours after the Pune blast.
The Mumbai Crime Branch on the other hand has dispelled claims that they would question IM operatives for clues, since they had busted the module in September 2008.u00a0 "We are not investigating the case," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria.
