Sketches of 2 suspects in Gorakhpur blasts released

Gorakhpur, May 24 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh Police tonight released the sketches of two suspects in the serial blasts which shook the district on May 22.

The sketches of two suspects Sameer (16) and Iftikhar (22) were released by Senior Superintendent of Police R K Rai at a press meet here.

Mr Rai informed the sketches were drawn on the basis of clues provided by the bicycle shop owner and mechanic. While Sameer is a resident of Golghar area, where the blasts occured, Iftikhar belongs from Maya Bazar.

''We have located the shop from where one of the cycles used in the blast was purchased. The police has strong clues that locals were involved in the blasts, which only aimed at creating terror and pandemonium,'' the SSP added.

He said the UP STF is still investigating the case and forensic experts have also been called to crack the case soon.

At least four people were wounded in the three explosions which occured within five minutes duration between 1900 hrs to 1915 hrs at a petrol pump, Baldev Plaza Market and Hotel York here.

The explosives were placed in tiffin boxes clinging to two old and one newly-purchased bicycles.

So far, 24 people had been taken into custody for interrogation.

Meanwhile, security has been strengthened at all important religious and historical monuments, including Ram Janmahoomi, Ayodhya, Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi, Mathura and Taj Mahal in Agra.

The STF had cracked the March 7, 2006 serial blasts at Sankatmochan temple and Cantonment railway station in Varanasi and July 5, 2005 blast at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya.

UNI