Pune blast: ATS suspects terror hand

Police sources said footage obtained from cameras installed in area near the blast site was being studied.

After a prima facie study of the CCTV footage, investigators believe that the motorcycle carrying the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was parked in the parking lot of Faraskhana and Vishrambag police stations, located at a few feet distance from the Dadgusheth Ganpati temple, for around five hours before the blast. Meanwhile, the state anti terrorism squad (ATS), which is investigating this case, issued a press release on Friday saying the blast seems to be a part of “terrorist attack.”

Police sources said footage obtained from CCTV cameras installed in area near the blast site was being studied. A youth is seen reaching the parking lot around 9 am, they said.

He parked the motorcycle in the parking lot reserved for policemen, in front of the Shree Swami Samartha Snacks Centre and left. Around 2.05 pm, the IED exploded, leaving five persons injured. Six two-wheelers around this motorcycle were also left damaged.
Attempts are on to identify the route followed by the man in reaching the police station, parking the motorcycle and whether he got help from others.

An offence has been registered against unidentified persons, at the Vishrambag police station, under sections 307, 324, 427, 120 (b) of Indian Penal Code (IPC), sections 3,4,5 of the Indian Explosives Act and sections 16,18 of the Unlawful Activities of Prevention Act (UAPA).

The state ATS has formed 10 teams for investigating the case. ATS is recording the statements of the witnesses. ATS is also probing the motive behind the blast. Dagdusheth Ganpati Temple has been on the radar of terror outfits. Earlier, there was an alleged attempt to bomb the temple by Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Qateel Siddiui, on February 13, 2010, the day when the German Bakery blast took place.

Terror angle not ruled out: CM

Mumbai: Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan Friday said the role of terrorist outfits in the Pune bomb blast the previous day could not be ruled out.
“We we not ruling out terror angle in the blast. Although we don’t want to speculate on the names of the organisation, there is a possibility of it being linked to some terror outfit,” Chavan said.
On Thursday, a low-intensity blast triggered by an IED planted on a bike parked in front of Faraskhana police station in Pune left four persons injured. ENS

Sushant Kulkarni

Sushant Kulkarni is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express in Pune with 12+ years of experience covering issues related to Crime, Defence, Internal Security and Courts. He has been associated with the Indian Express since July 2010. Sushant has extensively reported on law and order issues of Pune and surrounding area, Cyber crime, narcotics trade and terrorism. His coverage in the Defence beat includes operational aspects of the three services, the defence research and development and issues related to key defence establishments. He has covered several sensitive cases in the courts at Pune. Sushant is an avid photographer, plays harmonica and loves cooking. ... Read More

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Pune blast