7/11 blasts: R R Patil claims concrete leads

The state police have some concrete leads in the investigations of 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case and perpetrators of the crime would be brought to justice very soon, said the state Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil.

Patil, who also handles the home portfolio, was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the function organised to submit the report prepared by international constancy firm McKinsey on police reforms. However, he refused to give further details as he apprehended that it would hamper the investigations.

When asked about the involvement of any particular terror outfit, Patil told reporters, "We have not reached at any conclusion regarding it. Police are working in the right direction and at the right pace."

Even though in both Mumbai and Malegaon blasts, RDX was used, it would be inappropriate on his part to speculate whether two blasts were inter-linked or not, as police were still investigating both cases, Patil said.

Patil further said, "The state government is serious about strengthening its intelligence gathering machinery."

"As intelligence gathering is a specialised operation, we can't depend upon the police personnel who go to intelligence department for three years without any prior experience in the job," he added.

The McKinsey report on upgrading Maharashtra Police stresses the need for changes in the Bombay Police Manual, which still regulates the police service in the state.

The report recommends better rules regarding holidays, promotions, number of personnel in the force and improvement in the quality of their service conditions, said Maharashtra Director General of Police P S Pasricha.

It also recommended the use of helicopters to counter Maoist rebels in eastern Maharashtra, he said.

"We will first have to study its recommendations before we implement them," Pasricha said.

The state government has appointed a three-member committee comprising Principal Secretary (Home Department) Chandra Iyengar, SRPF Special IG Ahmed Javed and senior IPS official Vyankatesan to look into the recommendations.

McKinsey was appointed in June 2003 to look into issues affecting the police force.