The Hindu : New Delhi News : PM reviews law and order situation in the Capital

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Friday, Nov 04, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

PM reviews law and order situation in the Capital

Devesh K. Pandey

Lack of evidence hampering police probe of serial blasts

FESTIVAL TIME: Iftar hour at the historic Jama Masjid in Delhi on Thursday evening. Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday chaired a meeting attended by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, senior Home Ministry officials and Delhi Police officers to review the law and order arrangements for Id this Friday. The meeting also took stock of the progress in investigations so far into this past weekend's serial blasts in the Capital.

Meanwhile, in the absence of evidence pertaining to the blasts in Paharganj's main bazaar and Sarojini Nagar market, the police are now hoping for a positive outcome from the probe into the explosion inside the Delhi Transport Corporation bus at Govindpuri, in which they have made a little headway by preparing portraits of the suspect.

According to sources, the forensic teams that visited the explosion sites at Paharganj and Sarojini Nagar did not come across any significant evidence.

Though they picked up certain things from the spots for further examination, it is learnt that most of the evidence -- which could provide valuable inputs to the police -- were destroyed by the time the forensic teams arrived there.

So much so that the exact nature of the explosives used in the two blasts is not clear yet.

"It so happened that soon after the blasts no effort was made to secure the spot to keep the forensic evidence intact. And now we are facing difficulty in gathering clues," said a police officer.

It is only in the Govindpuri blast case that remnants of the bombs were found, from which it was confirmed that deadly RDX and an electronic timer fitted with batteries had been used.

Another major problem the investigating officers are facing is that most people who could reveal the identity of those who planted the bombs at Sarojini Nagar and Paharganj are either dead or admitted to hospitals in a serious condition.

"We are yet to record the statements of the victims who were close to the places where the bombs had been planted," say police officer.

However, in Govindpuri the police have come across passengers whose inputs helped them prepare portraits of the suspect.

Now efforts are on to establish his identity. "We have sent the portraits to neighbouring States seeking help in this regard."

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