NEWS

Police yet to make major headway in Varanasi blast

By Sharat Pradhan
December 09, 2010 20:17 IST

Other than detention of three labourers, the local police and the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad has failed to make any headway in the Varanasi blast case so far.

While two labourers identified as Vijay and Govind were picked up from their shanties early on Thursday morning, yet another identified as Mobin was detained later in the day.

"These labourers were engaged in some repair work carried out not very long ago on the steps of Shitla Ghat, where a blast was triggered by some explosive device at the time of the routine evening 'aarti' on Tuesday evening," Additional Director General of Police Brij Lal told mediapersons in Lucknow.

However, it was the low intensity of the blast that did not lead to any major casualties. The blast left one infant dead and 31 others injured.

The investigating agencies were awaiting the report of forensic experts who picked up samples on Wednesday morning. "Any further details about the explosives used and the nature of the blast would be possible only after the forensic scientists have submitted their report", Lal added.

Even as he maintained, "no arrests have been made so far," he did not deny that some persons were being questioned.

"Forensic reports would be significant for the ATS, as no splinters, remote control device, shrapnel or any electronic circuit could be unearthed anywhere in or around the site of the blast," remarked a local cop in Varanasi.

He however did not rule out the possibility that these devices or their remains just found their way into the Ganga river.

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

NEXT ARTICLE

NewsBusinessMoviesSportsCricketGet AheadDiscussionLabsMyPageVideosCompany Email