Groping for a breakthrough four days after the triple blasts, police today prepared a sketch of a suspect even as brother of an alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) member died in a hospital here after being questioned on Wednesday's explosions.
Widening the probe, police teams also fanned out to seven States to get definite leads in a desperate hunt for the bombers of the July 13 terror attack that left 19 dead and over 130 injured.
A senior ATS official said the sketch of the suspect in the serial blasts based on eyewitness accounts has been prepared.
“The sketch of the suspect is ready. It will be circulated among the investigating officials. It will not be released to the public,” he said.
Faiz Usmani, brother of Afzal Usmani who is currently lodged in jail for his role in the 2008 Gujarat blasts, today died while he was undergoing treatment for hemi paresis and hypertension in the Lokmanya Tilak Hospital, doctors said.
Usmani, a resident of suburban Govandi, was picked up for questioning yesterday by Chembur's Crime Branch unit and as he was not feeling well was admitted to the Hospital in Sion in the evening.
As he died today, Usmani's family alleged that he was tortured in custody. The Maharashtra DGP, Mr Ajit Parasnis, ordered a CID inquiry into the death.
Usmani' son Azeem alleged that his father was picked up for questioning and “pressurised during interrogation. They are to blame for his death.”
Dr Ryan Kumar of the hospital said, “He (Faiz Usmani) died due to brain haemorrhage. This condition usually comes when a person is exposed to some kind of shock.”
According to the sources in Maharashtra ATS, two to three more sketches of suspects based on eyewitness accounts would also be prepared.
The ATS chief, Mr Rakesh Maria, said, “We are in touch with UP, Gujarat, Delhi, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka police, as well as all the Central agencies. It is an all-out effort. Our teams have fanned out to various locations.”
Investigators are closely scrutinising CCTV footage of over 10 CDs from the blast sites to zero in on the people who could have planted the bombs.
Noting that the footage was voluminous and “grainy,” Mr Maria said that investigators were seeking technical help to get better images.
The police have refused to speculate on the involvement of any terror group and maintained that no one can be ruled out at this stage.