Hunt begins, net thrown far and wide

ATS officers, it’s learnt, are keeping a close watch over the movements of at least 24 persons, suspected to be part of three sleepers cells, based in Govandi, Baiganwadi and Jogeshwari areas.

“We are keeping close surveillance on three local sleeper modules. We suspect that they provided local assistance to the bombers. The modules are based in Govandi, Baiganwadi and Jogeshwari. Each module comprises about eight youth members,” said an ATS officer. “We are monitoring their movements and will soon interrogate some of their members,” he said.

Incidentally, when Mushiruddin Siddiqui (37) and Mansoor Ansari (24) were arrested from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus with two revolvers and 950 gm of high grade explosive powder on January 30 this year, ATS investigations pointed to the fact that the duo had been harboured by locals in Govandi.

“Mushiruddin and Mansoor had planned to stay for close to two weeks, and were harboured by three suspected SIMI activists based in the Govandi area, where they were supposed to prepare grenades. The same sleeper cell in Govandi, used for providing such logistical support, might have been activated” said the officer.

ATS chief & Joint Commissioner of Police K P Raghuvanshi told The Indian Express: “They have definitely got logistical support from locals. I cannot reveal anything further. All I can say is that they are Indians.”

ATS officials also believe that the bombs were planted either at Churchgate or at Marine Lines. “The bombers planted the bombs either at Churchgate or at Marine Lines station, after which the next stop for fast local trains would be Dadar station. At no other station would they have had the time or space on a Tuesday evening, to enter the compartment, plant the bombs and exit,” said an ATS officer.

Eighteen different teams of the ATS are probing the blasts. “About 50 officers have been put on this case. They come from all departments, including the Crime Branch and the Railway police. Officers who have prior expertise in such cases have been roped in, irrespective of rank and post,” said Raghuvanshi.

On the other hand, the ATS is finding it hard to prepare sketches of any suspects. “We are getting so many calls and inputs from the public, that we can prepare hundreds of sketches. However, we do not want to create a situation similar to the one following the Benaras blast, where the public lynched innocent people after sketches were released,” said Raghuvanshi.

According to sources, the ATS has doubts on the account given to them by Ghatkopar resident Sandeep Singh—he had said that at 5 pm on Tuesday outside Churchgate station, he had overheard three men talking about meeting in Malad after leaving packets in trains—as his versions were constantly changing.

“We find it hard to believe his version, as he is constantly changing what he says. We have also learnt that he is an aspiring journalist. He now says that he could not understand properly the language the three men were speaking,” said an ATS officer.

Meanwhile, in Bhiwandi, three persons were beaten up by locals after they threw away some food packets. Residents mistook the packets for explosives.