Gorakhpur blasts: Sketches of two suspects released

The police on Thursday released sketches of two persons suspected to be involved in the serial blasts in Gorakhpur on Tuesday.

The police on Thursday released sketches of two persons suspected to be involved in the serial blasts in Gorakhpur on Tuesday. The sketches were prepared on the basis of descriptions provided by the employees of two bicycle shops in the area.

The suspects, both aged below 21, had purchased the cycles about three hours before the blasts. In the sale receipts, while one signed as Iftkhar, from Maya Bazar in the city, the other mentioned his address as Samir from Golghar.

The police have announced a reward of

Rs 10,000 for information about the two youths. Gorakhpur SSP R K Rai said the numbers engraved on the bicycles were their first clue. “We then traced the shops from where the cycles were purchased. Soon the experts were called in and sketches prepared,” he added.

Story continues below this ad

The police have contacted another company to collect information about the third bicycle. The three bombs were placed in different cycles parked within an area of 150 meters.

SSP Rai said similarities with the blasts in Malegaon were also being investigated. “We have a team of officers who know the modus-operandi adopted in Malegaon,” he said. The SSP confirmed that timer devices were used in the blasts. “But the bombs were homemade and there was no use of RDX,” he added.