Month after Pune blast, police still clueless

PUNE - A month after a blast ripped through an upscale eatery in Pune’s Koregaon Park killing 17 people, police and investigating agencies are yet to make any significant breakthrough in the case.

On Saturday morning, several thousands came out on the streets and paid homage to the victims of the bombing in the German Bakery on Feb 13.

The people, including foreigners and students from scores of city colleges, also took a pledge not to be cowed down by terror threats.

The blast is being probed by Pune police, the state Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

ATS chief K. P. Raghuvanshi maintained that investigations are progressing and they hope to crack the case soon.

“We are examining it from all possible angles, nothing is being ruled out. But I will not speculate on whom we suspect. As soon as we are through, it (details) shall be made public,” Raghuvanshi told IANS here this afternoon.

So far, over 100 suspects have been questioned and allowed to go. There has been no significant breakthrough in the blast mystery, which left a permanent scar on the psyche of Puneites.

Though the police have been claiming of an imminent breakthrough since the past one month, nothing concrete seems to have emerged so far.

Undeterred, however, residents of Pune are continuing with life as usual, unmindful of the extra security measures that have been implemented post-blast.

On Saturday morning, several thousands came out on the streets and paid homage to the victims of the blast.

The people, including foreigners and students from scores of city colleges, also took a pledge not to be cowed down by terror threats.

The blast left 17 dead, including five foreigners, and a dozen others injured still continue to remain in various city hospitals.