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CCTV footage provides vital clues to probe team

July 15, 2011 14:20 IST

The investigation into the three blasts that rocked Mumbai on Wednesday is gradually taking shape.

After analysing the footage of CCTVs installed at the blast sites, the investigators believe that the suspected men are not locals but terror operatives sent from other states to plant the bombs.

The first crucial clue for the police comes from CCTV footage at Opera House, one of the blast sites. The best footage that they have got so far is a shot from the back-end of Pancharatna building.

The CCTV footage has been sent to the forensics laboratory for further examination.

Investigators are currently examining the footage from at least 30 cameras from various locations. They are probing CCTV footage that showed three men conversing on the phone and with each other for hours at Opera House, one of the blast sites.

Initial reports have now indicated that these men were not locals and this shows that a module from another state may have executed these blasts.

Union Home Secretary R K Singh on Friday said that the scooter, on which the bomb had been placed in Zaveri Bazaar, had been identified.

Investigators are also trying to find out if the scooter at the blast site belonged to one of the terrorists or if it had been picked randomly.

Investigators will also compare the serial blasts case with the Malegaon terror attack, which was cracked after the probe team identified the motor bike on which the bomb was placed. After the Malegaon serial blasts case, probe teams had managed to track down the number on the chassis, which finally led to the culprit.

The state Anti-Terrorism Squad, the Intelligence Bureau and the National Investigating Agency are jointly tracking this case.

The NIA is focusing on other states which are infested with terror modules and Jharkhand's capital Ranchi has come under its scanner.

Raids are being conducted across India and the needle of suspicion points strongly at a joint operation by the Indian Mujahideen and the Students Islamic Movement of India.

Vicky Nanjappa