Blasts: Foreign help sought to enhance CCTV footages

Mumbai/Patna, July 18 (PTI) Investigators were on Monday
taking the help of a foreign firm to enhance the image of some
crucial CCTV footages at the three sites of Mumbai serial
blast and were keenly looking at the identity of one person,
as they continued to struggle for a breakthrough.
Two suspected HUJI (Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami)members
arrested in Bihar were slapped with an FIR after they came
under the scanner in the serial blasts probe while Maharashtra
Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) intensified its nationwide hunt to
get solid leads on the bombers five days after the terror
attack.
The CID (Criminal Investigation Department) also began
its inquiry into the death of Fiaz Usmani -- the brother of an
alleged Indian Mujahideen member -- who passed away in a
hospital on Sunday following questioning by crime branch
sleuths in connection with the blasts.
The controversy over Fiaz's death has caused a setback
to investigations into the blasts, a police officer said on
condition of anonymity. His family cried foul and alleged
torture but Mumbai police denied the charge.
Faiza's death prima facie appeared due to natural
causes, said Dr T P Lahane, Dean of Government-run J J
hospital where the post mortem was performed.
In Mumbai, a police official said the volume of the
CCTV footages, which are playing a crucial role in helping the
investigators identify the sequence of events that led to the
blasts, is huge and many of the scenes are not clear.
"There was a need to enhance the image. We are taking
help of technical experts of a foreign-based firm for this
job," a senior Mumbai police official said.
The investigators are also probing a particular person
at one of the blast locations in the CCTV and through the
enhanced image his face can be easily seen, the official
added. The location was not revealed amid reports that it
could be Opera House. 19 people were killed in the three
blasts which also left 130 people injured.
In the eastern Indian state of Bihar, Kishanganj
Superintendent of Police R K Mishra told PTI that an FIR was
lodged against Md Riyazul Sarkar alias Akash Khan who was
arrested on Saturday, besides Md Mahtab Alam, who was in the
custody of the Pauakhali Police station in the district under
Foreigners Act.
"Sarkar claims to be an Indian and had stayed in
Bangalore.
"We verified from Bangalore and other addresses he
gave us and found the details wrong. One thing we can say is
that Sarkar is not an Indian," Mishra said.
"We have seized diaries, several SIM cards, details of
bank accounts and several contact numbers. These are under
investigation," he said.
Asked whether the involvement of the two in the Mumbai
blasts has been established, he replied, "We are yet to
establish this."
On whether the two were associated with the HUJI,
Mishra said "though we have not received clue I can't rule out
anything."
The 30-year-old Md Reyazul Sarkar alias Akash Khan,
fluent in Kannada, Gujarati and Bengali, was arrested from a
house in Maheshpura village in the district.
The house owner Mehtab Alam with whom Sarkar was
staying for seven days was also arrested.