No major lead in Mahabodhi temple blasts

It's been more than 48 hours since terror struck the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar but no crucial leads have been yet found. If in the next few days the Bihar Police doesn't come up with credible leads in the case, the investigation is likely to be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The Bihar Police on Monday released the CCTV footage of the blasts and claimed it would help them zero in on possible suspects. The police also detained a person with suspected Indian Mujahideen links in Kolkata.

As the investigation in the blasts continues, sources in police said they have identified at least three suspects in the case and teams have been dispatched to locate them and ascertain their identities.

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The NSG's forensic teams have concluded that analogue clocks were used as timers in the bombs. The manufacturer of the clocks has also been identified. The NSG has also found that explosives used in the bombs were a mix of ammonium nitrate, sulphur and potassium and that gas cylinders were used as containers.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has admitted that he had intelligence inputs about a probable attack on the Mahabodhi temple. "We had some inputs and took action but no one can claim to prevent all terror attacks," he said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs said the CCTV footage has not thrown up any leads on the bomb planters yet. Sources said the Intelligence Bureau and Delhi Police input about IM and the potential connection between the possibility of this being a revenge attack for alleged atrocities against Rohingya Muslims is being investigated but as of now no group can be blamed for the attack.

Police have also found some markings on the cylinders which are possibly instructions to operatives on where to place the bomb. It seems the bomb planters were not well versed with the temple topography.