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Caught in the crossfire between Israel and Iran, Indian agencies are yet to reach any conclusions on the blast that blew up an Israeli embassy car in New Delhi. Vicky Nanjappa reports on the progress of the investigation.
Investigating agencies in India appear to be caught in a cross fire between Iran and Israel over Monday's car blast in the national capital. Several agencies that are probing the case have made it clear that there is no concrete lead as of yet and a lot that is being spoken about this case is 'theory' at the moment.
Although the Union home ministry has ruled out an Iranian hand in the attack, investigators say that the alleged role played by Hezbollah is still under the scanner,
"We are probing the Hezbollah link, but are quite sure that the terror operation was not approved by the Iranian intelligence," a source in an investigation agency said.
There has been a wave of similar attacks in Georgia, Bangkok and New Delhi. Israel termed it as a 'global war' by 'terror sponsor' Iran and its accomplice Hezbollah against its people.
However, Indian agencies are not jumping to that conclusion and are also looking at the possibility of it being a stage-managed one.
The investigation at the moment is largely focused around the local links in this attack. There have been at least 50 people who have been questioned in connection with this case. Areas inhabited with Palestinians, Jordanians and Iranians are being scanned.
"A youth or student who was in India for sometime may have carried out the hit," a source pointed out.
It is said that the youth was in the country for around six months and the operation was being planned ever since. A team of the Indian agencies have also been in touch with their counterparts in Bangkok and Georgia and are sharing intelligence with them on the status of the case.
The reports coming in from both Georgia and Bangkok suggest that men of Iranian origin were found behind those terror bids.
However, neither Thailand nor Georgia have said anything about the operation being approved by the Iranian establishment.
Meanwhile, the police say that the bomber may not necessarily be a resident of Delhi and hence they are also scanning for details in other cities as well. Records of these persons who have come into the country in the past couple of years are being scrutinised.
However, the information that India has been getting from the Israeli agencies is completely different. Every bit of information that is being shared from Israel goes on to state that it was a hit staged with the approval of the Iran establishment.
Israel also goes on to state that the Hezbollah has set up terror cells in various parts of India and they have been active since the past six months.
There is a bit of a clash between the views expressed by Israel and also the information that the Indian agencies have on them regarding the activity of Iran sponsored terror cells.
Information with Indian agencies suggests that the Hezbollah has been in the country only to seek recruitments and also raise funds. There has been nothing concrete to show that they were indulging in subversive activities.
Moreover, Iran would not approve of an attack on Indian soil and the possibility of an independent operation also seems to be a bit remote as of now, a source said.
Another crucial bit of the investigation regarding the bomb composition also appears to be stuck. The presence of a magnet is confirmed, but other substances used in the explosive device, such as sulphur, potassium chlorate and nitroglycerin is yet to be ascertained.
Based on the initial information from the forensic department, the police say that it was assembled professionally but not designed to create maximum damage.
The bomb was designed to trigger off a minor explosion while rest of the damage was to be caused by the explosion of the fuel tank of the car, sources indicate. It does not appear to be a ploy gone wrong at all and minimal impact theory too was a planned one.
This has led to some confusion and investigators argue that if the intention was to kill then the bomb designed would have been more powerful.