Police clueless about nature of Varanasi explosives

LUCKNOW - A day after a terror attack killed a minor girl in Varanasi, the Uttar Pradesh Police was Wednesday clueless about the nature of explosives that struck terror on the bank of the Ganga.

“We have not found any circuit, battery, remote-control device, shrapnel or splinters from the blast site. We are not able to ascertain the nature of explosives and the mechanism of the blast,” Additional Director General of Police Brij Lal told reporters here.

“Whatever remnants we have got are being examined by forensic experts and central agencies. It is only later that we will be able to confirm the nature of the explosives,” said Lal.

He added that the Anti-Terrorist Squad would carry out the probe into the blast that till now was being conducted by the district police.

He said a total of 31 people injured in the blast were still being treated in various hospitals in Varanasi.

“While a girl (Swastika Sharma) died, 36 people were injured in the blast and the subsequent stampede. I have learnt that several people received injures from stone chips that hit them. The stone chips were probably from the cemented structures set up along the ghats,” said Lal.

Asked if police had found any evidence of the Indian Mujahideen’s involvement, Lal said: “At present, we have not found the involvement of any organisation, module, individual that can be linked to the blast.

“I would like to stress on the fact that till now no one has been detained or arrested.”

The blast took place Tuesday evening when hundreds were watching the ‘maha aarti’ - when devotees float numerous earthen lamps on the river.