Month after Pune blast, cops still clueless

A month after the February 13 terror attack on the German Bakery in Pune's Koregaon Park locality, investigating agencies continued to grope in the dark to identify the perpetrators of the crime that claimed lives of 17 young men and injured about 50.

The Maharashtra ATS, which is in charge of the investigation being coordinated with various other agencies including NIA, has not come out with any official word on the progress of investigation or identification of any group responsible for the blast, the first terror attack after the 26/11 Mumbai massacre.

Pune police have in their briefings only stuck to the stand that the investigations were "progressing on the right track," but without divulging any concrete clue. A large number of persons having alleged links with IM and SIMI have been questioned by police during the one month's period after the blast, sources said.

Although investigators are hopeful of finding crucial clues from the CCTV footage obtained from a five star hotel in the vicinity of the bombed eatery but police has officially not released any sketch of the suspects so far for public. Citizens took out a peace march holding lighted candles in the street to pay homage to memory of the blast victims.

City Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh appealed to people to be vigilant and report to police any suspicious object or activities that come to their notice.