Hyderabad Terror Blasts Investigation: Sketch Released, Groping and Growling Continues

By Animesh Roul

Five days after the twin terror blasts in India’s southern city of Hyderabad, the investigating teams have released a sketch of the first suspect involved in the Lumbini Park incident. Police yet to sketch the second suspect involved in the second blast at the eatery, Gokul Chat in Koti area. At least 42 people died and over 60 others injured on that fateful evening of August 25. The needle of the suspicion is largely on Harkat-ul-Jehad Al-Islami (HuJi) and Jaish –e- Muhammad (JeM). However, suspicions, political rumblings and war of words from across of the borders (Pakistan & Bangladesh) notwithstanding, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the blasts has been busy deciphering clues and leads, largely groping in the dark as in the earlier cases of terror attacks in the country. The first suspect arrested in this case is a petty thief from Assam.

I would strongly pinpoint HuJI as the main terrorist outfit that planned and executed the August 25 twin bombings in Hyderabad, in collusion with local operatives. The blasts of course showed an elaborate planning and masterly execution on the part of the terrorists involved in the operation. They have succeeded in penetrating security checks in Lumbini Park laser show arena and assembled the device with the timer. It is not simply possible for anybody to carry the whole bomb assembled beforehand to the arena. SIT confirmed each of the bombs contained ammonium-based explosives and were detonated with alarm clocks. The explosive material trail led SIT to Nagpur, in neighboring Maharashtra. Forensic sources claimed that a chemical substance called "Neogel-90" had been used to make the bombs. Neogel has been used for blasting and mining purposes and is reportedly produced under restriction at Amin Explosives Limited in Nagpur. In May this year four people have been arrested for illegally using explosives of the kind that were apparently used in July 2005 Mumbai train blasts. Also police seized large quantity ammonium nitrate, detonators and gelatin sticks from a mine and from two ammonium nitrate shops in the quarries in Salai Mendha locality in Nagpur. Many such seizures have certainly exposed the lacunae with regard to commercial explosive material regulations (forget military explosives) in the country.

Only HuJI has a successful track record in using local made mixtures of explosives as they made improvised bombs with ammonium nitrate, RDX, TNT in the past. The trend of using Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with Mobile and clock as triggers show the level of expertise at their (terror groups) disposal, which is threatening more than anything else for now.

Lumbini Park Blast Suspect

The sketch of the Hyderabad blast suspect released by the police today

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