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PESHAWAR, Feb 14: Investigators have obtained a video-tape, which they expect will provide clues to the identity of the Hangu suicide bomber, sources said.
“We have provided a tape to investigators, which contains clear images of the suicide bomber,” said an organiser of the Ashura procession in Hangu.
The bombing at an Ashura procession left 43 people dead and scores others injured.
“The tape clearly shows three people trying to get hold of the bomber before the explosion. We can confirm the identity of the killer after watching the tape,” he said.
Officials acknowledged having received the video-tape but said that they were investigating the incident from different perspectives and it would be premature to say something at this stage.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police (Investigation) Fayaz Turoo said that sufficient forensic evidence had been obtained from the blast sites that could provide vital clues to investigators to identify culprits behind the suicide bombing, the first in the NWFP.
“There is no doubt. It is an act of suicide bombing. People have seen a torso and a big fireball rising in the air,” Mr Turoo said. He said that investigations were underway and it would take time to complete them, he said.
“Investigation team reached the city the next day and collected forensic evidence and recorded eyewitness statements,” the AIG said.
Sources said that DNA test of the human remains were being conducted to ascertain the bomber’s identity.
Sources said that a team of the FIA’s Special Investigation Group (SIG) and army teams also visited the site on Monday and collected material. They said that investigators were still present in the city.
“Yes, SIG and other agencies are providing technical assistance,” the AIG said.
Sources said that investigators also suspected a Shia blast victim, Meraj Ali, for carrying out the suicide attack. He was a Hangu resident.
“We still suspect Meraj Ali although he belonged to the Shia community”, an official said.
Sources said that the police was interrogating Jamshid Ali, the son of Meraj Ali. Parts of the lower torso of Meraj Ali were recovered from the site and his son confirmed his identity.
They said that investigators were trying to establish a link between the Hangu incident and the Bari Imam shrine suicide bombing, which killed 20 people in May last.
WITNESSES INVITED: The judicial tribunal constituted for probing the Hangu incident on Tuesday notified to the general public interested in appearing as witnesses to register their names with the Hangu district and sessions judge within five days.
The tribunal presided over by Justice Fazlur Rehman Khan of the Peshawar High Court notified: “If any person who is acquainted with or in the knowledge of any or some aspects of the incident/subsequent crimes and wants to appear before and to be examined by the tribunal should register his/her name as witness with the District and Sessions Judge, Hangu within 5 days of the appearance of this press release in the media.”
The tribunal was constituted by the NWFP government after the occurrence of the incident on Feb 9. The terms of reference of the tribunal is “to probe/inquire into the facts of the incident, which occurred on Feb 9 in Hangu Bazaar during Muharram procession, wherein several persons were killed/injured in a bomb explosion and to fix the responsibility of the incident/subsequent crimes”.
The incident has resulted in the killing of about 43 people belonging to different sects.
APP ADDS: The NWFP government has constituted a two-member committee to assess the loss and damages incurred during the Hangu incident on Feb 9, says an official notification here on Tuesday.
The committee comprises Member Board of Revenue/Relief Commissioner NWFP and Chief Engineer Works and Services Department NWFP.
The committee will submit its report to the provincial government at the earliest, it concluded.
