Blasts: No definite leads yet, bomb laden scooter identified

New Delhi/Mumbai, Jul 15 (PTI) A breakthrough in the
probe has eluded investigators two days after the western
Indian city Mumbai terror attack as they identified Friday a
scooter in which explosives were hidden at one of the three
bomb sites, quizzed several people and analysed call records.
As investigators scrambled for definite leads in the
hunt for the attackers, officials said an explosive cocktail
of Ammonium Nitrate, TNT and fuel oil along with a timer were
planted in the boot of the scooter outside Opera House to
create maximum damage since the ripped metal would become like
splinters.
Asked whether the investigators were working on any
definite lead, Indian Home Secretary R K Singh said "we have
not yet zeroed in on".
"We have identified the scooter in which one of the
bombs was planted," he said.
The chassis number of the scooter was scratched by the
perpetrators of the triple explosions but was later retrieved
by the investigators. 18 people have been killed in the triple
explosions on Wednesday evening.
The attempt was apparently aimed at misleading the
probe in a different direction, they said. The Gujarat
registered two-wheeler was in Mumbai for many months.
It may be recalled that the motorcycle used in Malegaon
2008 blasts had its chassis number damaged.
The CCTV footage at the three blast sites which was
being scoured by police also did not reveal much, officials
said, adding the role of the underworld was also being probed.
Officials said the forensic experts of National
Investigation Agency (NIA) were satisfied with the nature of
evidence collected from the blast sites.
Singh said investigations into the serial blasts in the
metropolis was going on and several people were being
questioned based on their "previous known linkages".

Maharashtra ATS and Mumbai Crime Branch have questioned
a number of people including two arrested Indian Mujahideen
(IM) operatives, and those having links with underworld gangs
and other anti-social elements.
"A number of people have been questioned so far but the
exact figure we cannot tell you. Among those questioned
include two IM members who were recently arrested, people
having links with underworld gangs and other anti-social
elements in the city. We believe we are moving in a right
direction," an ATS official said.
The Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in its
report also denied any use of deadly RDX in any of the blasts.
An email received by a channel was being examined by
cyber experts and is believed to have been originated from a
Gulf country. However, the security agencies believe that it
may not be a serious mail and somebody wanted to play a prank.
Call records of the cell towers at the three blast sites
were being collected from various telecom service providers
for analysis to find out whether any suspicious call had been
made.
Asked whether there was any cross-border links to the
blasts, Singh said: "We have an email which originated
elsewhere. It is being followed up".
Singh said the CCTV footages of the three blast sites
were being scrutinised by the investigators and they were
going through the 11 CDs made from the footages.
"Now, we have all the people and the faces appeared.
They have to be recognised by local people to see whether they
are locals or outsiders. That process is on. There are 11 CDs
which have been gone through. It is a voluminous work," he
said.
The Home Secretary said people not recognised by the
locals have been put through a data base and they were being
verified.
"Suspicious people are being verified. Various people
with previous known linkages are being questioned based on our
previous data bases. This investigation is on," he said.