New terror module could be behind Mahabodhi blasts: NIA probe

GAYA: The terror module involved in Bodhgaya temple blasts in Bihar could be a new one as the unexploded IEDs do not have not signatures of bombs which were used in previous terror strikes across the country.

Sources in National Investigation Agency said a preliminary analysis of three unexploded IEDs recovered from Mahabodhi temple do not match with the IEDs which have been so far used for terror strikes in the country.

In an attempt to nail the terrorists, NIA matches the style of making IEDs with the previous blasts to identify the module which could have executed the act.

The sources said IEDs used in Mahabodhi temple did not match any previous blasts, which indicates that a new module could have been involved in the incident.

However, they said it is a very preliminary inference drawn by the investigators and further investigation would clarify the picture.

Meanwhile, NIA today registered a case in connection with Sunday's serial bomb blasts at Mahabodhi temple in the historic city of Bodh Gaya which had injured two monks.

Immediately after registering a case, NIA seized CCTV footage and called forensic experts to pick as many fingerprints from three unexploded IEDs.

The CCTV footage may be sent to Kolkata to get a frame-by-frame analysis of the footage in an attempt to identify the members of the terror module behind the sychronised blasts which shook the holiest seat of Buddhism.

The case has been handed over to NIA at the direction of Bihar government.