A bomb disposal squad member tries to defuse a bomb at Gandhi Maidan on October 27. Telegraph picture

Patna, Nov. 5: Investigations have revealed that the timer-fitted bombs, which were used for carrying out the attack at the BJP’s Hunkar Rally in Patna on October 27, were the same ones that were recovered during the search of a private lodge in Ranchi on Monday.

An investigating officer said the timer devices with Lotus branding were recovered during the search of the private lodge at Hindpiri in Ranchi, where one of the six named accused in the Patna multiple blasts, Hyder Ali, was staying. Ali, however, managed to give the slip to the raiding team. Nine bombs fitted with timer devices, 19 detonators, 25 gelatin sticks and two clocks were found.

The officer, who did not wish to be named, told The Telegraph that the same kind of the explosives were used in the serial explosions at the Mahabodhi Mahavihara on July 7. “The only difference is that the bombs used in the Bodhgaya blasts were of low intensity where as those of the Patna blasts were improvised explosive devices,” he added.

The seized bombs were of high quality and could have caused damage to 15 to 20 persons at a time.

That the Ranchi module of the Indian Mujahideen was involved in the Patna blasts is evident from the fact that elbows pipes were found from the lodge. The same elbow pipes were recovered from the places where the bombs went off during the Hunkar Rally at the Gandhi Maidan and the Patna Junction. Each bomb consisted of three elbow pipes, he added.

“The samples of the seized explosives have been sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Hyderabad, for examination. The same would be matched with those found on the premises of the Mahabodhi Mahavihara. The forensic report is awaited,” the officer said, adding that the seizure of the explosives would help the investigating agency solve the case and ascertain the identity of the group involved in the two terror attacks in Bihar.

Surprisingly, no terror group has so far owned the responsibility of the multiple blasts in Patna.

Imtiyaz Ansari, who was earlier taken on remand for interrogation by the Government Railway Police, is believed to have given vital information about the Ranchi module of the newly formed terror group. The group consisted of 15 to 20 youths.