Sleuths scan CCTV footage of Bodh Gaya blasts, 1 detained

Investigators today groped for definite leads from the CCTV footage of the serial explosions in and around Buddhism's holiest shrine at Bodh Gaya even as they detained a man in connection with the terror attack.
A day after the near coordinated 10 serial explosions, the historic Mahabodhi temple was reopened for public at 6 PM after special prayers by monks. Unfazed by the attack, thousands of people stood in queue to visit the shrine.
The two monks, who were injured, are out of danger, acording to Sita Ram Prasad said, Medical Superintendetnt of ANMMCH in Gaya.
As a team of investigators from NIA, NSG and other agencies searched for clues in the multiple blasts, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said a proposal will be made to the Centre to ask CISF to take over the security of the shrine which was declared a UNESCO heritage site in 2002.

A team of the National Security Guard (NSG), which picked up samples from the area, has sent a preliminary report to the Union Home Ministry, saying the low-intensity bombs worked like improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and were triggered through analog clock timers.
The bombs contained a mix of ammonium nitrate and sulphur and were neatly packed in small cylinders, the report said.

Bihar Director General of Police Abhyanand said a person identified as Binod Kumar of Barachatti in Gaya district has been detained and questioned on the basis of a voter Identity card in his name which was found during searches inside the temple after the explosions. Police, however, said Kumar's role in the attack, if any, has not been ascertained yet.

Investigators believe at least three to four people may have visited the site of the attacks to plant the 13 bombs as each of the explosives might have weighed four to five kg with a cylinder.
Official sources said the investigators are scanning the footage of CCTV installed in the complex to locate those who were carrying the bombs -- possibly in bags or cartons -- but the quality of pictures were believed to be of not much help to identify the attackers.
Abhyanand told newsmen in Patna that lab tests have so far confirmed the presence of ammonium nitrate in the crude low intensity bombs but there were no trace of TNT or other explosive material.

Papers containing the name of the location where each of the bombs had to be planted were found pasted on each explosive, he said. "The name of the location is written in English and some words in Urdu," he added.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said as many as 13 bombs were planted of which ten had exploded and three live bombs defused. Yesterday, it was stated that nine explosions rocked the area.