Cops see local hand

The Ahmedabad blasts and planting of bombs in Surat were carried out with substantial local support, authorities in Gujarat said on Thursday even as police conducted combing operations and detained several persons for questioning in a bid to unravel the conspiracy.

8220;Though the conspiracy has a pan-national angle, it could not have been possible without the local support,8221; said Surat Police Commissioner R M S Brar. 8220;Terrorist operations of such a massive scale are not possible without local support. The planting of bombs, selection of places and transportation of explosive material were not possible without locals,8221; he added. Brar said there were no specific leads about involvement of any foreign hand but 8220;chances of one mastermind behind all these is very much possible8221;.

Meanwhile, police teams from Rajasthan and Mumbai have arrived in Surat to help in the investigations. Earlier, a team from the Delhi Anti-Terrorist Squad led by ACP Ravi Shanker had visited the city.