Delhi blast: Toll at 12 as NIA announces reward for clues

The NIA today announced a reward of Rs five lakh for anyone providing clues about the Delhi High Court blast that has now claimed one more victim - taking the death toll up to 12.

The man was indentified as Pramod Kumar, a resident of west Delhi's Hari Nagar.

The probe into the explosion entered the second day with the police officials and other agencies announcing full cooperation.

"NIA has announced a reward of Rs five lakh for anyone giving any information to follow up the case. As far as investigation is concerned, that is going on. Delhi Police and NIA are coordinating (with each other)," Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh told reporters here.

Kashmir raid and another letter

Earlier today, investigators traced the HuJI email claiming responsibility for the blast to a cybercafe in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district.

Local police said two brothers - Khajwa Mehmood Aziz and his brother Khalid Aziz - who owned the cafe and one employee had been taken in for questioning. No formal arrests have been made. According to sources, the email was sent by Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami(HuJI) from the email address harkatuljihadi2011@gmail.com [1].

"We own the responsibility of today's blast at (the) high court (in) Delhi. Our demand is that Afzal Guru's death sentence should be repealed immediately else would target major high courts and the Supreme Court of India," the HuJI email read.

But few experts doubt the angle of investigation saying emails are not part of HuJI's known operating methods.

Now, another letter, purportedly sent by Indian Mujahideen claims responsibility and says India should prepare for more attacks.

Forensic reports

"We have received initial forensic reports. We are waiting for some more," Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said after he visited the RML hospital - where the maximum number of injured are admitted.

At the High Court, a security personnel manning one of the gates at the High Court said: "We are requesting even lawyers to show their identity cards and submit themselves to thorough security check in wake of the terror strike."

Every litigant could be seen going through the security check. However, very few litigants visited the High Court.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram also held a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation in the wake of the blast even as investigators got preliminary forensic reports with regard to the explosion.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Shivshankar Menon and other senior officials in the security establishment attended the meeting.