The NIA has zeroed in on a suspect in the Bodh Gaya blasts that injured two people on July 7.
The investigative agency on Tuesday released two sketches and CCTV footage of the alleged bomber in a monk’s attire. The NIA has requested the public to cooperate in the probe and provide information to identify the person allegedly involved in the blast.
The move to publish sketches and CCTV footage came after investigators failed to get any lead in the serial blasts, despite roping in several State law enforcement agencies to crack the case. The sketches, one in which the suspect is wearing a green mask and another with his face bare, were posted by the NIA on its website.
After combing several hours of surveillance clips, NIA released a 3-minute and 40 second-long CCTV clip, showing the suspect walking around the Mahabodhi shrine wearing a green mask.
In a particular clip recorded nearly 15 minutes before the first blast, the suspect’s face is visible but the grainy footage failed to provide clarity.
The agency incorporated details provided by three witnesses while sketching the suspect, sources said. The three witnesses — two foreigners from Thailand and Sri Lanka respectively and a local monk — spotted the suspect shortly before the serial blasts.
The man, suspected to have planted the cylinder bomb in the Mahabodhi shrine, was seen in different CCTV footages between 3.30 am to 5.15 am on July 7. NIA said various video clips of the suspect had been merged to form a single footage for the public’s convenience. The agency tried to trace the suspect with the help of local police, but in vain, an official told Express.
“Four persons detained as suspects earlier this week were released by the agency after interrogation. They had booked a hotel room for a few hours in the city but interrogation did not reveal any credible evidence against them,” official said.