Ayodhya, July 6
One of the six persons killed in the blast was identified on Wednesday evening as Ramesh Pandey, a junior priest cum guide, living in Katara, next to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple complex.
His wife, Suman identified him through his chappals and the strap of his wristwatch. According to the police the man may have been leaning on the jeep when it blew up killing him instantly and mutilating his body beyond recognition.
The family had been searching for him since yesterday. The young man, father of a three-year-old daughter, was apparently caught unawares when the jeep blew up.
This untangles the mystery of the sixth body found near the jeep. He had been killed before the one-and-a-half-hour long exchange of fire between the suicide killers and the security forces. This had led the police to speculate that he may have been a cleaner with the car or an assistant driver.
Declining to make any guesses on the outfit behind the blasts, DGP Yashpal Singh described it to be the handiwork of a “formidable group.”
The terrorists, all between the ages of 25 and 30, were not local residents. They were highly trained and well versed in handling sophisticated arms and explosives, including anti-tank grenades. He is in constant touch with the Kashmir police for any possible help in the identification of the terrorists.
“No paper, diary or maps were found on their bodies which can help in their identification. Their clothes were off the shelf providing no clues. But the police is reexamining them, including the shoes for any possible leads,” said the DGP.
Calling it a well-planned operation DGP Singh said the terrorists had definitely done their homework as they struck at the most vulnerable point in the security cordon. That they were contained before causing any major damage proves the level of the security forces preparedness, said Mr Singh.
Admitting that resident associations had made such a demand when he had come to the city barely a month ago to
review the security arrangements, the suggestion had been sent to an advisory committee.
Late last night the police had arrested the second driver, Raj Kumar, who had brought the five terrorists to the Faizabad bus stand where they had hired Rehan’s jeep. Raj Kumar had brought them from Akbarpur railway station early in the morning.
