What is your reaction to the verdict?
I am happy that justice has been done to people who lost their lives, to the families who lost their loved ones, and to those who were maimed in those seven blasts.
How difficult were investigations in this case?
We have seen in the past that when any such act has been committed, the perpetrators always mess up somewhere or the other, leaving behind traces and clues for the investigating agencies. Be it the Bali bombing or the London blasts, or any other that have taken place in India, some bomb failed to explode, which helped the investigating agency take its probe ahead. In this case, however, the entire operation was so meticulously planned and executed that not a single suspect left behind his footprints. Also, there were heavy rains on the day of the blast, which made relief and rescue operation even more difficult.
How did the ATS get its first clue?
As the ATS was only a year-and-a-half old then, we had the best technical support. We had set up a huge team on gathering technical intelligence. We started getting information about the telephone calls made from in and around Mumbai a few hours before and after the blasts and we came across a Navi Mumbai number which was unusually busy. The Navi Mumbai person was calling some Kamal Ansari in Madhubani, Bihar. We, with help from intelligence agencies, then got Ansari picked up and, after sustained grilling, he told us about the plot and the others involved.
Do you feel travelling in trains is still risky for citizens?
No, it is safe now...
