Two suspects arrested in Patna serial blasts case

The blasts at Narendra Modi's 'Hunkar Rally' had left six persons dead and 83 injured

The probe into the Patna serial blasts gained momentum on Monday with security agencies arresting two suspects, including one who is possibly the mastermind, and detaining several others, even as reports of gross security failures began to come in.

The suspects arrested have been identified as Tausim and Imityaz Ansari. Ansari was apprehended at the Patna railway station while planting a bomb there. A senior police official said Ansari had confessed to the crime and how it happened. “He told us that three teams of 18 people came to Patna on Saturday and planted the bombs.”

Security agencies are questioning Imtiyaz Ansari on the wider conspiracy behind the blasts. Sources indicate that the blasts might be a terror attack orchestrated by the Indian Mujahideen (IM).

A team of Patna police and National Investigative Agency officials on Monday searched the Gandhi Maidan, the venue of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's ‘Hunkar Rally’, for clues.

The rally witnessed six of the seven blasts on Sunday, which left six dead and 83 injured.  Police also conducted various raids in different part of the state capital. Information has also been given to other states and subsequently, police teams have been sent there.

The Ranchi police have also detained some people on the suspicion of being involved in these blasts, a senior Jharkhand police official stated.

Meanwhile, reports emerging after the blasts indicate a gross security failure by the state government.

According to unconfirmed news reports, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had written to the Bihar government on October 23 that IM may target Modi during the rally.

However, the state police denied receiving any such reports. “IB issues general alerts from time to time. But we never had any specific information about these blasts,” said Additional Director General of Police Ravinder Kumar.

He also rubbished media reports that while defusing the bombs, policemen destroyed crucial evidence.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday described the blasts as a “well planned conspiracy to disturb and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state.” He also denied having any intelligence inputs about the blasts.