Melvyn Thomas/TNN
Surat, Nov 12: The Gujarat Police has been trying to figure out this puzzle for a while. How did nearly 29 unexploded bombs surface in Surat just after the serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad on July 26 in most unlikely locations? The bombs were planted atop trees, under fly-overs and behind towering hoardings.
Finally, the Maharashtra anti-terrorist squad (ATS) may have an answer. It's another matter that the 29 bombs bombs did not explode, apparently because of a faulty integrated circuit, and a snorkel was used to reach up to the bomb and defuse it.
But it now appears that on the night of July 25 or 26, the bombers may have driven around in a snorkel to plant bombs. The snorkel is used to fix streetlights and fight fires by Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).
The Maharashtra ATS officers are here to investigate the Malegaon blasts as well as the two cars stolen from Navi Mumbai found abandoned in Surat laden with explosives. They strongly suspect that terrorists may have used an elevated platform to plant bombs.
TOI checked the logbook of SMC's fire control department, which has six snorkels. However, entries made in the logbook for July suggest that between July 20 and 28, the snorkels did not roll out of the fire station.
On being asked about the line of Maharashtra ATS's investigation, RMS Brar, Commissioner of Police, said, ``This is absurd. The Maharashtra ATS is investigating into the Malegaon blast. There is no connection between Malegaon and Surat. We have already identified the suspects who planted the Surat bombs.''
Chief fire officer of SMC G M Kothwala said, ``There are no private snorkels here. We strictly monitor movement of our snorkels. But, the possibility of street ladders cannot be ruled out.''