Five more bombs found,suspect names two other ‘accomplices’

According to the NIA and Bihar Police sources,Tehseen Akhtar alias Monu,said to be an aide of arrested Indian Mujahideen (IM) leader Yasin Bhatkal and suspected to be the key conspirator,was told to get youth from places other than Bihar to broadbase the module. Intelligence agencies said Imtiaz and the others had come from Ranchi with the bombs.

One of the suspects has been identified as Haider,a resident of Aurangabad who was living in Ranchi since 2010. Akhtar,a resident of Samastipur who is wanted in several other bomb blast cases across the country,is reported to have got in touch with Imtiaz through Haider. Sources said Imtiaz,who worked as a preacher in Sithio village under Dhurwa police station of Ranchi,mobilised the others from Ranchi.

Imtiaz,who has been sent to seven-day police custody,reportedly told his interrogators that Haider had been asked to create a module in Naxal-dominated area of Aurangabad. The Jharkhand Police is reported to have received Intelligence inputs on Haider’s “suspicious” activities. Haider is reported to have been among those who planted the bombs.

Imtiaz,who was also questioned by a Jharkhand police team which left for Patna on Monday evening,has reportedly claimed ignorance about how the others went about their task. “He said that someone gave him the bomb in Ranchi,but did not identify that individual… He said he had not received any training in bomb-making,” said the officer.

Imtiaz has reportedly said that he went to Patna by bus,accompanied by a youth,Tariq alias Enul,who was injured in the blast at the Patna railway station and is in hospital.

Tariq,who is reported to have passed his matriculation from Azad High School,Ranchi,was working as a mechanic.

While Taufiq,another resident of Sithio village,is reported to have passed his intermediate exam,there is no information available on the other suspect,Niman,also from Sithio. None of the accused has criminal antecedents.

Sources said they suspected that Akhtar and Haider were in touch with Riyaz Bhatkal,but they have not found any evidence so far.

Meanwhile,Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami visited Gandhi Maidan,Patna Medical College and Hospital and the railway station today,and said the Centre would provide training to Bihar ATS officers.

Suspect kin of JD(U) leader: BJP

PATNA: The BJP has alleged that Tehseen Akhtar alias Monu,suspected to have played a key role in the Patna serial blasts,was the nephew of Taqi Akhtar,who is associated with the JD(U). Taqi was the JD(U) general secretary in Samastipur,but the party committee has since been dissolved.

BJP national secretary Rameshwar Chaurasia alleged that the link between Tehseen and Taqi was a serious matter. However,state JD(U) president Bashistha Narayan Singh countered,“It is true that Taqi is our party leader and related to Tehseen,but Taqi has nothing to do with his nephew and has already made this clear to the police.” ENS

Shinde meets Sonia