The police have confirmed this by checking the mobile phone records of Mohammad, who has been missing. His wife Saira Bano has been arrested.

A resident of Rampura basti in Bikaner, Taj, a Railway employee, is also suspected to have smuggled out diesel used by the Railways. Police have recovered about 50 bottles of what they believe to be combustible fluid, mainly a mixture of kerosene and diesel from his house. It is believed that these bottles are similar to those found on the Samjhauta Express, though the police are waiting for forensic reports to confirm this.

“Forensic tests are on and we will send the results to the Haryana police directly. Meanwhile, we launched on Friday a search for Taj whose mobile records show that he was somewhere near Panipat on Sunday,” IG ( Bikaner Range) Laxman Meena told The Indian Express. The Bikaner Police, in a joint operation with the Military Intelligence team, had raided Taj’s residence on Thursday and arrested Saira and Salman Ahmed. Salman Ahmed’s face has a striking resemblance to one of the two sketches of the prime suspects released by the Haryana Police.

Meena confirmed that the Military Intelligence team in Bikaner traced Salman down. “It was the members of the intelligence team who had seen Salman in Rampura basti and recognised him. It was with their help that he could be traced. We have learnt that he is a resident of Mumbai,” said Meena, adding that a team of Haryana Police left for Panipat on Friday, along with Salman.

According to the police, Salman who was a frequent visitor to the couple’s house, was in Bikaner for the past one month. He, they suspect, was on the train and returned to Bikaner.

As Taj’s mobile records also shown his presence near the blast site, the police are now investigating his and Saira’s role. “They are all suspects. Saira and Taj because of the diesel found in their house and their relationship with Salman,” said Meena.

Saira is in the custody of the Bikaner police and is being interrogated.

Sources in the police confirm that those detained include Taj’s colleagues in the Railways.

“There must be a number of railway employees who must be involved in smuggling diesel,” said a police officer.

The Bikaner police earlier raided Taj Mohammed’s house in August 2004, when four girls from Mumbai were recovered there. However, the couple was released for lack of evidence.