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Varanasi, Mar 8 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh police today claimed to have found vital clues in connection with the twin blasts in Varanasi yesterday, following the killing of a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) ultra in an encounter on the outskirts of the state capital this morning.

The situation in the holy city, where at least 17 people were killed and over 90 injured in the explosions, is tense but returning to normal.

Political and religious leaders throughout the country condemned yesterday's twin blasts in the temple city of Varanasi and called on the people to maintain peace and harmony.

Security at important installations and prominent religious sites in the country was stepped up in the wake of the blasts.

''No terrorist organisation has owned responsibility for the blasts so far but we have some vital clues with us as a pointer towards some definite breakthrough in the ghastly incident,'' Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Acharya Palanivel told UNI today.

The Special Task Force (STF) had started investigation last night itself and they had got some vital clues, he added.

In the morning, UP police shot dead the LeT militant in an encounter near Gosaiganj area of the state capital. The militant, who was coming from Varanasi in a truck, was challenged by the police team near the Sharda canal, on the outskirts of the state capital.

Police had to retaliate when the ultra opened fire on them.

More than 2.5 kg RDX and detonators were recovered from the possession of the slain militant, Salar alias Sartaj alias Doctor.

A foreign made pistol and some live cartridges were recovered from the possession of the deceased.

Salar was wanted in several cases of serial blasts in the country, police said. Delhi government had also announced a reward of Rs 50,000 on the head of Salar.

Sources said that probe was underway to ascertain whether the militant was involved in the yesterday's serial blast in Varanasi.

''We are studying the pattern of the blasts to ascertain the modus operandi of the terrorist group. Last year's attack on the Ram Janambhumi complex in Ayodhya is also the subject of study in the investigation,'' they said.

The temple town was limping back to normal with various temples witnessing a heavy influx of devotees since morning. People in large numbers were seen taking a holy dip at the different ghats on the banks of the Ganga and the general traffic in the city plied like normal days.

Sankat Mochan Temple, where the first of the two blasts had occurred killing five devotees, was also thrown open for the public though the security around it has been tightened and a close watch is being maintained on the visitors.

The situation at Varanasi Cantonment railway Station, the other site of the blasts, had also been brought to normal, a district official said.

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