Article

2007-02-22 India-Pakistan

Police Probe Suspicious Phone Call for Clue

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Posted by Fred 2007-02-22 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Indian soldier died rescuing passengers

An Indian soldier onboard the fire-bombed train to Pakistan died while rescuing trapped passengers from blazing carriages, officials said on Tuesday.

Kashmir Singh was part of a rail security team on the cross-border train. The midnight attack in the northern Indian city of Panipat killed 68 people and injured more than a dozen with severe burns.

After the twin blasts, Singh smashed through a steel door and an emergency hatch of one of the two blazing carriages and helped five or six passengers get out, Police Inspector-General Sharad Kumar said. He kept pushing out people from the coach despite being on fire himself ... and finally flames overwhelmed him.

Police officer Ranjan Sharma, citing witness accounts, said Singh ignored the risk to his life in the fire-storm which engulfed the carriages.AFP

Posted by John Frum 2007-02-22 10:50|| 2007-02-22 10:50|| Front Page Top

#2 There were 6 suitcase bombs, not 4
Rubbishing aside the four suitcase bombs version of the special investigating team (SIT) working on the Samjhauta Express incident, forensic experts today claimed that there were six bomb laden suitcases in the ill-fated train. Relying on the scientific evidences, they opined that it was the handiwork of experts.

Earlier the state authorities had claimed that only four suitcases were used in the crime and out of which two blasted while two others were recovered live.

While sharing the forensic findings of the Delhi-Attari Express incident exclusively with The Tribune, Dr R.K. Kaushal, assistant director of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Madhuban, here confirmed that at least two explosives laden suitcases each were blasted in the two coaches.

He said the forensic investigations revealed that the suitcases were placed near the middle doors of both coaches and that caused enormous loss of lives. He stated that it was evident that fire had spread very quickly as most of the dead were found lying down.

An expert in ballistics science, Dr Kaushal is heading the FSL team investigating the incident.

While defusing one of the live suitcase bombs, the assistant director said it had been found that two or more bombs each were used in both coaches that spread fire.

He said the two live bombs were timed to explode exactly at midnight but the criminals erred and had set the time as 12.00 (read pm) instead of 00.00 on the digital timer.

Director FSL Dr J.S. Mahanwal opined that the local made equipment were used in making the low-intensity explosives. He said all Gehi Pet brand bottles were used to fill certain explosives. The brand new one-litre transparent bottles were bought fresh from the market.

He clarified that it was yet to be ascertained if the explosives comprised petrol and kerosene or a mixture of the two or more materials.

Mr Mahanwal, however, confirmed that experts had assembled the firebombs as the suitcases were fitted with light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a tiny illuminating device that confirms the smooth functioning of the circuit.

He said the bottles were sealed with a high quality sealant to cover the foul smell, which further helped the explosives to explode with a massive pressure.

He revealed that electronic gadgets and other parts used in the bombs were probably bought from the wholesale electronics market at Bhagirathi Palace opposite the Red Fort in the National Capital.

Posted by John Frum 2007-02-22 13:53|| 2007-02-22 13:53|| Front Page Top

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