Bombs placed near tools, scrap shops

The bombs that went off at Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House, causing 18 deaths on Wednesday may have been packaged as scraps and (small) tools.

The bombs that went off at Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House, causing 18 deaths on Wednesday may have been packaged as scraps and (small) tools.

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Officers investigating the blasts told the Hindustan Times that the perpetrators had carried out reccee of the two places and knew where to place the bombs so that they would cause maximum damage.

According to officers, the bomb at Khau Galli at Zaveri Bazaar may have been planted outside Super Tools — the oldest shop in the lane that trades in small tools, screws and nails. The owner purchased these materials from factories in Uttar Pradesh and also from a few local dealers. The shop was completely destroyed in the blast and its owner, Tayeb Bhai, is undergoing treatment.

“We suspect that the bomb was kept along the articles of the shop. The package containing the bomb would have passed off as one of the tool packages,” said an officer requesting anonymity. The police are now questioning local suppliers to find clues about the suspect, who may have taken advantage of his acquaintance with the shop owner.

It is learnt that the owner of the shop was killed in the blast.

Investigators are questioning scrap vendors and rag pickers in the locality and nearby areas to find the suspect who was supplying scrap at the shop for some time, the officer said.