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Police prepare suspect's sketch, man dies in custody

Mumbai blasts suspect's sketch will not be made public.

Looking for clues to Wednesday's serial blasts, Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad has fanned out teams to various locations across the country and prepared a sketch of the suspect based on eyewitness accounts.

In a related development, Fayaz Usmani, brother of 2008 Gujarat blast suspect, Afzal Usmani, died in hospital after being questioned by police in connection with the blasts in Mumbai.

His family has alleged that he was tortured in custody.

Meanwhile, a senior ATS official said the sketch of a suspect in the serial blasts that left 19 dead and injured over 130 has been prepared.

"The sketch of the suspect is ready. It will be circulated among the select and top investigating officials. It will not be released to the public," said the ATS official.

The sketch will also be shown to the select police informers to get identification of the suspect, the official said refusing to divulge any further details.

The sketch was prepared based on an eyewitness account at one of the three blast sites, the official said.

ATS chief Rakesh Maria said: "We are in touch with UP, Gujarat, Delhi, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka police, as well as all the central agencies. It is an all out effort."

"Our teams have fanned out to various locations. People in various modules who have been arrested in the past, they are being questioned to help us in this investigation," he said.

Brijlal, Special DG, Law and order, UP police said, "Whenever a tragedy of this magnitude hits, we try and keep in touch with each other. We are coordinating with the ATS and our team is already there".

Police said Fayaz Usmani, a resident of suburban Govandi, who was picked up for questioning yesterday, died in a hospital in the wee hours today.

The provisional post-mortem report of Faiz Usmani, says that he had a heart attack and there were blood clots in his brain.

"Provisional post-mortem of Usmani suggests that 90 grams blood clot was found in his brain. He even had a heart attack. His heart has been kept separately for further medical examination," Deputy Police Commissioner (Crime) Nisar Tamboli said.

Dr Ryan Kumar, a doctor at the hospital said: "He died due to brain haemorrhage. This condition is usually when a person is exposed to some kind of shock".

Doctors said he had no external injuries on his body. Azeem Usmani, the victim's son alleged: "My father was picked up for questioning and pressurised during interrogation. They are to blame for his death."

The Mumbai Police have denied the charge.

Mumbai Police Spokesperson Nisar Tamboli said: "He was brought for questioning by the Chembur unit. He was suffering from hypertension and had not taken medicines for the last three-four days. He was admitted to the hospital last evening and the allegations of torture by police are absolutely untrue."

Tamboli said the postmortem will ascertain the exact cause of Usmani's death. Usmani's wife Rubaida said: "When the police came to take him, they said that they will just interrogate him. He had gone alone. So we don't know what the police questioned him about. I don't know to what extent he was tortured, that he got so tensed. They came back in an hour saying he was unwell, he had vomited and was admitted to Sion Hospital."

SP leader Abu Azmi, who visited the hospital, said: "I will meet the home minister and the chief minister tomorrow.

An inquiry should be conducted. While we all want that the accused should be arrested and hanged, but the police cannot harass a common man to such an extent that he burst a vein in his head because of all the tension".

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Rajesh 18/07/2011 - 02:23pm

Needle of suspicion is always pointed towards Muslim community, which is not correct. Investigation should be in all directions.

M. Nasir Khan 18/07/2011 - 09:26am

Once again an innocent Muslim has to pay the price for a criminal act rendered by others. How long will this continue? There are hundreds of innocent Muslims being questioned or under trial for years. It is very a sad state.

Vijay 18/07/2011 - 06:05am

It is sad to see that terrorists stuck again and took innocent lives. Whenever, terrorists strike both innocent Hindus and Muslims die. One happy thing is that Indian society matured and there is no backlash from people. Lot of these terrorists attacks might be acts of vendetta by the wounded youth due to past communal violence. It is not easy let go of the past but these people should realise that both Hindus and Muslims want peace and nobody wants to any more bloodshed. Police should also act responsibly, they should try to gather as much intelligence as possible to stop the acts of violence and at the same time should give respect to common man's life. It is not acceptable to see a common man die in their custody. It will create more doubts in the minds of minorities and results in more insecurity in them. Let us all pray for the people who lost their lives and hope that terrorists won't resort to heinous acts of violence again.

Mohammad 18/07/2011 - 04:49am

Like always the police will harass innocent Muslims and do not bother to investigate the real people involved. It is suggested by a top leader that all Hindu organisations should be looked into along with others. Muslims are part and parcel of India and please treat them with respect and love.

Honest Indian 17/07/2011 - 09:31pm

I am sure they will again accuse some innocent Muslim youth and close the case without even bringing the truth out. Investigations have to be candid, honest and in all possible directions.

hari 17/07/2011 - 07:13pm

Wow. I think these type of things, torture by police, creates unsustainable environment. Police needs to be educated and there must be stringent laws to protect commoners. I am sad to see that Muslims are again targetted for nothing.

Bahadur Khan 17/07/2011 - 04:51pm

While it is our national duty to condemn the deplorable acts of terrorism and to bring the culprits to justice we cannot ignore the actions of police officers. Until and unless police and investigating agencies are made accountable for custodial deaths, these incidents are going to happen. National Human Rights Watch has to come forward and pressurise government for the amendment in law.

Moiz 17/07/2011 - 04:05pm

Ban media trial and judgement. To truly fight terrorism, security agencies should reach & uproot the main sponsor of blasts, not just catch a few season actors. Otherwise it will continue for generations. Interesting thing is everybody uses a few short-tempered Muslim boys. The media presents blasts in a very flimy style, stereotype, colourful & gives verdict on all blasts, and most people believe it blindly. Nowadays it has become the best tool to defame Muslims. By one shot, a big agenda is achieved.