‘Regrouped’ IM is suspect,’very different’ bomb puzzles police

The Varanasi blast seemed to have been planned for December 6,the anniversary of the Babri Masjid’s demolition,given that the email is dated December 6. However,IM operatives probably could not carry out the attack on the day due to heightened security.

Government sources indicated there could be more terror targets and planned strikes by IM since the email does not specifically mention Varanasi. Religious places across the country besides the whole set of Lashkar-e-Toiba targets like Chabad Houses,German bakeries,Paharganj hotels and the National Defence College still remained possible terror targets.

As many as 20 identified IM operatives are on the Home Ministry’s radar and while most of them are said to be located in the Gulf and Pakistan,at least “five to six” could be in India,the government sources said. What is puzzling investigators,though,is the nature of the bomb.

In the 24 hours since it went off,investigators have not found any of the usual IM “signatures” such as ball bearings and nails or remnants of an IED or remains of a battery,wire,detonator,timer or circuit.

What they have collected are samples of soil,pieces of stones and pieces of a white plastic container which has a sticker,with the word “Prince” on it.

While experts don’t rule out that the battery,wire and timer could have been blown into the Ganga by the force of the blast,an official of Agra’s Forensic Science Laboratory said: “One thing is clear,there were no ballbearings or other such articles in the bomb.” Doctors treating the injured have also found no sign of wounds caused by metal pieces.

Also,there is no CCTV footage because there are no such cameras installed at the ghat. The design of the bomb indicates that those who planted the device had examined the site. The bomb was placed on a staircase made of stone slabs. “They knew that the explosion would automatically convert the stones’ slabs into projectiles,” said an official.

Incidentally,the attackers also chose that particular area of the ghat where no TV cameras are present. The Gangotri Sewa Samiti and Ganga Sewa Nidhi both organise artis every evening at Sheetla Ghat. The Ganga Sewa Nidhi artis attract bigger crowds and are covered live by a local TV channel,which has a camera permanently set up there. However,the attackers targeted the Gangotri Sewa Samiti arti site,about 100 yards away. Another reason behind the attackers not using metallic objects like ball bearings or nails could be the presence of metal detectors at the entry points of the ghats. The Uttar Pradesh ATS is looking for some new IM cells. Salman,an IM operative who was arrested by the UP ATS from Siddharthnagar a few months ago,had told police that IM founder Amir Raza Khan and the Bhatkal brothers — believed to be in Pakistan — had set up fresh teams in India for triggering off blasts. Salman was among 12 IM operatives,including the Bhatkals and Khan,who had a Rs 1-lakh reward on his head. Of them,Dr Shahnawaz,Ariz alias Junaid,Sajid (Bada),Mohammad Khalid,Mirza Sadab Beig and Asadullah Akhtar alias Asadullah Khan,all belonging to Azamgarh,are still at large.(With inputs from Bhupendra Pandey)