Jaipur blasts: 7 more sketches released

Hindustan Times | BySiddhartha S. Bose, Jaipur
Updated on: May 18, 2008 01:58 am IST

They release the portraits of another seven suspects who purchased the bicycles that were used for carrying explosives. Siddhartha S. Bose reports.

The police have released the portraits of another seven suspects who purchased the bicycles that were used for carrying explosives to the serial blast sites inside the walled city.

HT Image
HT Image

DIG crime, Saurabh Srivastava said, “Sketches of three more suspects are being prepared.” The terrorists had purchased ten bicycles from the Kishanpole bazaar hours before the walled city was bombed on Tuesday.

While the bombs went off on Tuesday killing more than 60 people the police managed to defuse one that was placed outside the Ramchandraji temple at Chandpole. Around 1.5 kg of explosives was strapped to the abandoned cycle and was timed to detonate.

The police had identified eight of the ten shops from where the bicycles were purchased by the terrorists. Based on the information provided by cycle traders the police released sketches of the seven persons who had purchased the cycles. The police are now trying to locate the shops from where the remaining bicycles were bought. “Once we are through with the interrogation of the employees of those shops the remaining sketches would be released,” an official said.

Local shopkeepers and some of the blast survivors, who were shown the portraits, have been able to recall seeing the men just before the blasts were triggered. However, none was identified till Saturday evening. The police are also looking into the information database available with them and trying to match the sketches with those of hardened criminals and terrorists.

“We are matching the product number of the copy of invoice with the plate number inscribed on the cycles used in the blasts,” a police official said.

Police found a striking similarity in most of the purchases made by terrorists. “A regular customer would inquire about the product, test it and then make the purchase; the terrorists just ordered the bikes, paid the price and quickly departed with the bicycles,” a senior police officer said.

The state has offered an award of Rs 10 lakh to anyone who identifies a suspect.

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