Bodh Gaya, Patna blasts linked?

The Jharkhand ADG (law & order) S N Pradhan said that the Ranchi module(of IM) has been set up recently, adding that the police also suspect that the same IM module might have been behind the Bodh Gaya terror attack on July 7 as explosive materials and digital timer device found in Patna blasts were identical. "A fail-safe connection has been established between the two blasts," he added. Five people including two monks were injured in the Bodh Gaya strike.

The ADG said a National Investigation Agency team had arrived here on Monday to investigate links of the newly set up Ranchi module of IM and further investigations are on. Earlier in the day, three persons detained in Ranchi in connection with the Patna blasts were released after interrogation last night. Raids were carried out in Jharkhand soon after Bihar Police tipped off their counterparts in Ranchi that some suspects in Patna blasts hailed from the state, police said adding black powder, materials used to make IEDs, pressure cooker and extremist literature were seized Patna SSP Manu Maharaj earlier said that "One of the accused, who is being considered as the mastermind, has been arrested.

He has confessed how the planning took place"."The accused has confessed about the crime, how it happened. He told us that six-seven teams came to Gandhi Maidan and surroundings of Patna and how they planted the bombs," he said in Patna.

Three-four suspects have been detained, he said, adding, "We are in the process of interrogation so things will be clear very soon". Maharaj said six to seven persons had accompanied the alleged mastermind.