Catch and release: Over 200 picked up, released after quizzing

Rawalpindi Police nominats leader of banned militant organization, its spokesperson in FIR for RA Bazaar blast.

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Police on Tuesday nominated the leader of a banned militant organization and its spokesperson in the first information report (FIR) for the RA Bazaar blast that killed 13 people including eight security personnel and more than 30 injured. 

“We nominated the militant leaders in the FIR after they took responsibility for the blast,” Operations SSP Mian Maqbool told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.

Police sources said that despite hectic efforts the police are still clueless about the handler and facilitator of the suicide bomber.

Meanwhile, sources said footage of the crime scene shows a suspect parking his bicycle in RA Bazaar. Soon after he had parked the bicycle, there was a huge explosion. Sources said he had reached the scene just moments before the blast.

“Security agencies shared a video with us which shows the suspect reaching RA Bazaar just a few seconds before the blast. However, at this stage we can’t say whether he had any link with the suicide bomber or not,” said a senior police officer.

Meanwhile, the police conducted search operations in various localities and rounded up more than 250 suspects. Police said that those who failed to prove their identity were taken into the custody.

The Sadiqabad police picked up around 150 persons, the Pirwadhai police arrested 85, and the Naseerabad Police 26 suspects. However, about 200 were released almost immediately after interrogations.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2014.