Sketches of 2 suspects released, DNA of victims taken

Panipat, Feb 20 (UNI) The Haryana Police today released the sketches of two suspects who could be behind the Samjhauta Express blasts while authorities took DNA samples of badly charred bodies of victims to establish their identity.

Meanwhile, the toll in yesterday's train blasts touched 68, with the death of a 15-year-old Pakistani boy at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

As many as 16 bodies of the victims have been identified so far while DNA samples have been taken of the remaining 50 bodies lying at the Panipat Civil hospital.

Addressing a press conference here, Rohtak range IGP Sharad Kumar said the two suspects on board the train coming from New Delhi got off about 15 minutes before the blasts occurred.

They were seen arguing with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel in one of the coaches, saying they had boarded the wrong train and wanted to get off.

The duo got off the train when it slowed down near Panipat and the blasts occured some 15 minutes after they alighted, the IGP said.

It was suspected that the duo might have planted explosives that led to blasts in the train, he added.

As per eyewitnesses, one of them was a bit plump, between 35-36 years of age and having wheatish complexion. He was wearing trousers, shirt and jacket, he said.

The other suspect, between 26-27 years, was dark and slim. He had wrapped a muffler around his face, he added.

The Haryana Police has announced an award of Rs one lakh for any person giving clues about the whereabouts of the suspects.

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