NIA releases sketches of suspect in Bodh Gaya blasts

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Tuesday released two sketches of a suspect in the serial bomb blasts in Bodh Gaya, officials said.

The agency, which is probing the blasts, released two sketches - one in which the suspect is wearing a mask and another without it.

Officials said that the sketches of the suspect, who was wearing a Buddhist monk's robe, have been developed with the leads available and were being shared with the general public for assistance in investigation.

The video clips in which the suspect is seen in the CCTV camera have also been released on the agency's website.

The officials said that sketches have been prepared on the basis of details provided by the eyewitnesses and CCTV footage.

Ten bombs exploded in Bodh Gaya July 7, in which two Buddhist monks were injured, and police recovered three live bombs.

A special court has also been set up in Patna to hear the case of serial bombings, a police officer said.

The court has been established in the Patna civil court, said an official who is assisting the NIA's probe into the July 7 terror attack.

The NIA detained six people but released all of them after questioning.

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