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Hyderabad blasts: Bomber’s cycle had white mudguard
A man caught on camera on a bicycle with a distinct white mudguard and metal container near one of the Dilsukhnagar blast sites minutes before Thursday’s explosions could be one of the two suspects investigators are looking for.
A man caught on camera on a bicycle with a distinct white mudguard and metal container near one of the Dilsukhnagar blast sites minutes before Thursday’s explosions could be one of the two suspects investigators are looking for.
“We are quite certain the man was one of two who planted the bombs,” said an investigator. “We suspect it is the same bicycle used to carry explosives. Remains of it have been recovered.”
Meanwhile, Andhra BJP chief G Kishan Reddy said he had received a letter purportedly from the Lashkar-e-Taiba, claiming responsibility for the blasts.
Investigators closed in on the suspect after scouring video footage from traffic police CCTVs located near the two blast sites -- fast food eatery Ramesh Tea Corner and a bus shelter that are located close to each other -- the investigator added. The footage was shared with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who visited the city on Sunday.
"From the footage, the suspect's face isn't visible much and we are using high-tech image enhancers to develop a facial profile," the investigator said.
Based on the physical characteristics of the suspect and the type of bicycle used by him, sleuths have begun contacting businesses loaning old cycles for a fee. Both bicycles used to carry explosives were old.
The probe suspects Indian Mujahideen in the attack because it comes months after two of its alleged operatives -- Sayed Maqbool and Imran Khan -- surveyed Dilsukhnagar as directed by their chief Riyaz Bhatkal. "We suspect operatives of two IM modules that operate from Nanded-Ahmednagar in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were involved," the investigator added.
IM had also allegedly executed two blasts in the city in August 2007; a third bomb planted by its operatives at a spot in Dilsukhnagar was recovered and defused after the suspect placed the bomb on a motorbike and ran away on seeing a traffic patrolman.
