Answers to Bodh Gaya blasts after NIA probe: Shinde (Roundup)

Home Minister Shushilkumar Shinde Wednesday said the NIA is probing the serial bombings at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya and answers would be known after the investigation was over.

"A detailed investigation into the serial bomb explosions at Bodh Gaya is going on by the NIA (National Investigation Agency) and the NSG (National Security Guard)," Shinde told mediapersons in Bodh Gaya after his visit to the temple complex and other places where 10 bombs exploded early Sunday.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi accompanied him to the 1,500-year-old temple.

The home minister refused to answer if terror group Indian Mujahideen (IM) was behind the attack or if there were any security lapses behind the incident.

"I can't say if the IM was behind it or not till the NIA probe is over," said Shinde. The centre had alerted the state, he said.

"Delhi Police had given information in October. Bihar deputy inspector general of police had taken a security review on July 3 and spoken to the local security force," said Shinde.

"The NIA will look into any lapses," he said.

The home minister maintained that there was no delay in sending the NIA teams to the blast site.

"We sent the teams by air but due to thunderstorms and bad weather in between, the flight had to turn back and they reached the site at 4 p.m.," he said.

"We don't want to arrest anyone in a hurry and want to go into details and arrest the main people responsible," he said.

According to the home minister, of the 13 bombs placed at the site Sunday morning, 10 went off between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.

"It seems small gas cylinders weighing two to three kg were used, and they contained nails and ball bearings. Initial investigation shows that the bombs were placed in the night and three or four people could be involved," he said.

The "centre would look into" Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's request to deploy Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the temple, said Shinde.

The Bodh Gaya temple is a Unesco World Heritage site. It is where the Buddha, who was born in neighbouring Nepal, attained enlightenment around 2,550 years ago.