No headway in Gaya blasts, Shinde says all angles being probed

Investigators made no headway yet in their probe into Bodh Gaya serial blasts as they looked into all possible angles including any Naxal role and also the purported claim by banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen(IM).

The Bihar Police, meanwhile, released today four persons, including one woman, detained yesterday in connection with the explosions on Sunday in and around Buddhism's holiest shrine as no evidence was found against them.

No arrests have been made in the case but police detained one more person identified as Dasrath, who belonged to Barachhati village from where Binod Mistri, the first person to be detained by the NIA, hailed.

Dasrath was picked up on the basis of calls he made to Mistri and as his named figured in the police diary, police sources said. The role of Mistri and Dasrath in the attack, if any, has not been ascertained yet.

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who visited the bomb blast sites along with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Ambika Soni, said a "detailed" probe was being carried out by the National Investigation Agency(NIA).

Asked about any involvement of Naxals in the Gaya blasts, he said, "There are so many complex problems. Infiltration from other countries is there, naxalites are there, local communal disturbances are there. We have to see all angles."

Shinde said the NIA, which has taken over the probe, is looking into all possible angles including the purported claim by IM in a Twitter account about carrying out the blasts and any possible link with the issue of alleged atrocities on the Rohangiya Muslims im Myanmar.

"We are conducting complete investigations. Three-four people may be involved...with a car. We are conducting detailed investigations," he said.

Asked why no arrests have been made in the case, he said, "Arresting anyone in a hurry is not right. Investigations should go into detail and catch hold of the real culprits."

Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj told PTI in Patna that the four people who were detained were released after no evidence of links with the explosions was found during their questioning.Two monks were injured in the blasts.

The four had themselves volunteered to meet Patna City Superintendent of Police Jaykant after coming to know they had figured in the CCTV footage at the blast site at the temple complex.

During questioning, the four said they had gone to Bodh Gaya to visit the historic Mahabodhi temple, Jaykant said. Besides Bihar police, they were also questioned by NIA and IB.

Three FIRs were also lodged against unknown people at the Bodh Gaya police station on the basis of statements of security personnel on duty at the temple on the day of the explosions, Senior Superintendent of Police, Gaya, Ganesh Kumar said.