A day after the twin bomb explosions on the Kaziranga Express, the CB-CID (Crime Branch-CID) probing the case released grainy CCTV footage of a man leaving hurriedly after disembarking from the S3 coach immediately after the train pulled into the Chennai Central Railway Station.
Addressing reporters, CB-CID IG Mahesh Kumar Agarwal did not confirm whether the man, who appeared to be in his early 30s and bald, was being treated as a suspect. The poor quality video grab shows the man running away after getting down from coach S3 at 7.08 am. He was nowhere to be seen at the station. The first explosion rang out from coach S4 at 7.18 am.
A National Security Guard team visited the explosion site and interacted with CB-CID officials. The Centre has also decided to rush a team of the National Investigation Agency to Chennai collect data about the twin blasts. The decision was taken after the Tamil Nadu government was assured that the central probe agency would be only collecting data. Meanwhile, CB-CID officials from Chennai visited Bangalore City Railway Station, from where the train had originated.
Police sources said the officers are looking into the possibility that the explosives were planted on the train while at the city station.
The investigating officers, thoroughly verified CCTV footage from the railway station.
Officials of the Internal Security Division of the Karnataka Police are also part of the investigation.
“They are gathering information, apart from CCTV footage in and around the city railway station. It will take some time to come to a conclusion on whether the explosives were planted when the train was at the city railway station or somewhere else,” S N Sidramappa, Superintendent of Police, Railway Police, told Express.
Investigators have also collected information on the 72 passengers who boarded compartments S4 and S5. They have also detained two men for questioning.
“It is not correct to say that the miscreants planted the explosives in the train while it was at the city station and got off at Cantonment station. It is just a rumour.”
B Srikantappa, DIG, Railway Police, said the investigating officers are also talking to officials who were on duty when the train left Bangalore. “We are working on some clues that could possibly lead us to the miscreants who planted the explosives on the train,” the officer said.
Bangalore City Police is providing logistics support to the investigating team. “Since the investigation is being done mostly by the Railway Police and the team from Chennai, we are only providing logistical support to them,” said Kamal Pant, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order).
‘Injured Doing Fine’
The 14 people who were injured in the twin blasts are still undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital and are doing fine, hospital sources said on Friday. Two of them had sustained serious injuries and had undergone major surgery, they added.
(With PTI inputs)
THE DAY AFTER
‘ISI’ agent planned south network?
Chennai: The interrogation of suspected ISI agent Mohammed Zahir Hussain, arrested recently here, has revealed that he has been making attempts to establish a widespread network to carry out activities, including circulation of fake currency in south India, sources said.
■ Safety Commissioner records statements of the injured
■ Centre asks NIA to collect data on Chennai blasts
■ Hoax bomb threat calls keep Chennai cops on their toes
■ Fourteen injured in Thursday’s blasts still undergoing treatment
Till the state govt allows an nia probe, we cannot take the matter into our hands
— sushilkumar shinde,Union Home Minister