CCTVs help prepare suspect’s sketch

“We have made good progress in our investigations. A sketch has been prepared from a CCTV image from Zaveri Bazaar. The quality of the sketch is good since the resolution of the CCTV grab has been enhanced by a studio in Mumbai that has worked on some Hollywood projects. They have cleared up the image significantly. In addition,eyewitnesses in the area have also contributed to the quality of the sketch prepared,” said an officer on condition of anonymity.

“A core group comprising Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Mumbai Police Crime Branch officers has been formed to work on the most important leads. This is a very small group. The sketch prepared from the CCTV image has,so far,not been shared with other states. The core group is pursuing it at present,” said the officer.

Crime Branch sources also revealed that while pursuing a tip-off they felt could be linked to the blasts,they had instead cracked a robbery case in the vicinity of the Zaveri Bazaar blast site. “We had received information that some boys from Khar Danda had left their homes for the Kalbadevi area on July 13 and had disappeared since. We began pursuing this as a serious lead that could be linked to the blast in nearby Zaveri Bazaar. However,this led us to four youths,who were arrested on Monday for looting Rs 27.5 lakh from Nisha Enterprises,a steel unit in Vithalwadi Kalbadevi,” said a Crime Branch officer,who did not wish to be named.

The Crime Branch has recovered

Rs 11.5 lakh from Prakash Borivli,Chetan Malap,Javed Ali Sayed and Dastgir Mohammed Sadiq Sayed. The police are on the lookout for another accomplice.

Meanwhile,in an order passed by the Mazgaon court on Tuesday,the media has been prohibited from either publishing or telecasting news related to the CCTV footage of the blasts.

Magistrate N J Shende said,“If identity of the witnesses is disclosed to public at large,it may hamper the smooth investigation of the case and may cause threat to such persons.”

The order was passed after the state ATS moved the court,saying the media telecast or news published pertaining to the footage and suspected persons might have a negative impact on the investigations.

ATS chief Rakesh Maria had on Monday issued a press note,requesting the media to refrain from showing the recordings. The release said telecasting the CCTV footage “may lead to the disclosure of the identity of the witnesses in the important case,thereby exposing them. This case is being investigated under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,1967,and there are special provisions under this Act to protect the identity of witnesses”.

Samples from sites sent to lab for analysis

IN THE past 24 hours,the State Forensic Science Laboratory has received samples from the blast sites,which among other things include two bags of broken parts of mobile phones and other metallic objects found at the spot. All samples have been sent for chemical analysis as the probe on timers is being done by central agencies.

The laboratory,which will now work on each sample,will conduct a chemical analysis to confirm the explosives used. The lab experts had unofficially told the state ATS that ammonium nitrate was used in the latest strike. With the trading community using phones as an operational tool,the maximum number of exhibits are broken parts of cellphones.

The white Wagon R belonging to trader Jitendra Bhansali from the Opera House blast site has also been brought to the Kalina laboratory. “The car has taken the maximum impact of the blast,” said an official,adding that samples from the car will also be taken. A huge quantity of metal debris as well as the scooters from Zaveri Bazaar have reached the lab for analysis even as the agencies are still verifying the details of the vehicles’ owners. Other items include footwear and blood-soaked clothes found at the spot.