Budhwar Peth shopkeepers were quizzed a week ago

Three days after the Delhi Police announced that the Jangli Maharaj Road blasts had been solved, it has come to light that about a week back teams conducted inquiries at the electronics and electrical goods market in Budhwar Peth in Pune.

Two absconding Indian Mujahideen (IM) suspects and Feroze Sayyed, one the three arrested suspects, allegedly procured electronic goods for assembling the IEDs from the Budhwar Peth electronics and electrical goods market.

IM suspects Asad Khan of Aurangabad and Imran Khan of Nanded were apprehended from Pul Prahladpur in Delhi on September 26, and Feroze of Pune was nabbed at the Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi on October 1.

Interrogation revealed that two IM operatives (who are absconding and whose names were not revealed) had arrived in Pune with the explosive material and Feroze accompanied the duo to the Budhwar Peth market for purchasing electronic equipment for the bombs.

When The Sunday Express visited the market, an electrical goods shop owner said, "Two cops came to us about a week back. They showed us pictures of bicycles with front carriers. They asked us whether we had seen anyone wearing T-shirts who had come to the electronics market on the red bicycles and whether they purchased anything from our shop."

Another shopkeeper said, "Cops visited almost every electrical and electronics goods shop in Budhwar Peth market. Cops requested us to pass on any information about the men on bicycles. We cooperated with the cops and replied to their queries. Cops have collected contact numbers of many shop owners."

"We do not know whether the cops were from Delhi or Pune. We just replied to their questions," said an electrical goods shop owner at Budhwar Peth.

Investigators believe the alleged IM operatives purchased digital watches, circuit boards and other electronic equipment for making IEDs from Budhwar Peth between July 15 and August 1.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Apex court rejects petition, traders to continue stir

NDA vice-principal resigns, says nothing to do with row

WB-assisted centres of excellence a matter of honour, says CoEP

Collector takes stock, serves notice on over 500 traders