NIA to take over Mumbai blast probe from Maharashtra police?

New Delhi, Aug 7: With no clear leads found in the Mumbai Terror Attacks that occurred on Jul 13 leading to the death of 26 people and many others injured. It has now been reported that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will not take over the probe from the Maharashtra Police. A source from the Home Ministry revealed the fact. It is understood that the ministry will review the investigation before making a final decision.

The sketches that have emerged out of the CCTV images seem to be the only lead in the blast probe. A government source have been quote as saying, "NIA has been closely associated with the probe since day one and has assisted the Maharashtra anti- terrorism squad (ATS). It may take over the reins of the probe if Maharashtra police remains clueless, may be till the end of August."

The Home Ministry had earlier advised the NIA to assist the ATS and the crime branch in the investigations in spite of the fact that the NIA team was rushed to the spot when the blast occurred. The NIA was kept out of the probe on the Varanasi blast, the Jama Masjid shootout, the explosions outside the Delhi High Court and Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

The source stated further, "But the Mumbai case is different from other cases as this is a very deliberate and major terror strike. It shows a dreaded module is at work, which has hoodwinked our intelligence agencies and this is a real cause for worry."

Chidambaram when earlier asked on why the NIA was not given the case when they were involved in the probe right from the start, he replied, "As long as we are satisfied with the progress of the probe, we let the state agency to investigate."

OneIndia News