No breakthrough yet in Bodh Gaya blasts

Patna, July 10: Investigators have not yet made any breakthrough in the serial bomb blasts that rocked Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi temple in Bihar, officials said today.

Though Indian Mujahideen had tweeted claiming responsibility for the bombings at Bodh Gaya, the investigating officers and police officials said they are pursuing their own leads in the case.

Ten bombs went off on Sunday at the 1,500 years old Mahabodhi temple complex, where the Buddha had attained enlightenment. Two monks were injured in the explosions.

"Three FIRs were lodged on Tuesday night in Bodh Gaya police station on the basis of the statement of a staff of Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee, a Buddhist monk and a police official," Gaya Superintendent of Police Ganesh Kumar said.

"Now, the main focus of NIA (National Investigation Agency) is on six suspects, including a woman, who were detained from Patna and Gaya and interrogated by the them, and some suspects caught on CCTV footage...," a police official said.

The NIA announced today a reward of Rs.10 lakhs for anybody providing information regarding the bombing suspects.

According to police officials, the CCTV footage shows three people entering the temple premises through unspecified entry points, while two others stood near the gate close to the car they came in. One of them, who is the tallest, carried a bag on his shoulder.

But officials are facing a problem since the footage from the 16 functional CCTV cameras installed at the temple complex is of poor quality.

According to police officials here, five teams of the NIA are working on various angles.

"Poor CCTV footage also has complicated the ongoing investigation," an official said.

But Magadh range Deputy Inspector General of Police N.H. Khan said that investigation is going on in the right direction.

"A bag found on the temple premises was also being examined," he said.

IANS