Eyewitnesses fail to identify Varanasi blast suspects

     Varanasi: Eyewitnesses on whose description Uttar Pradesh police made sketches of the two suspects of the Varanasi twin blasts, failed to identify the suspected detainees. In an identification parade that went throughout Saturday in a luxurious hotel here, official sources today said that shopkeepers were unable to recognise Sadiq Ali and Ansar as the ones they had seen placing the bombs in the Godaulia market. Police had earlier claimed that the two detainees closely resembled the suspect's sketches and that they had booked accommodation in the rest house under different names. However, the Special Task Forces (STF) did not divulge any information regarding the identification parade results and have reportedly moved two teams to Shahjanpur and Muzzafarpur for further investigations. Before putting up at Hardoi, these suspects were in Shahjanpur, and they had stated Muzzafarpur as their hometown. The twin blasts that left about twenty people dead and several others injured here on Tuesday evening, is being investigated by the STF. Till now, eight persons have been detained for investigation. The two suspects Ali and Ansar were arrested from Hardoi marketplace on Friday evening.

Javed Akhtar leads peace march in Varanasi

     Varanasi: Hundreds of people participated in a peace march led by noted Bollywood lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar in Uttar Pradesh's temple town Varanasi, where nearly 20 people were killed in twin blasts last week. The residents participating in the march, said that the situation in the city was normal and people were moving around and worshiping in the temples without fear. "People are becoming more and more aware now. They should condemn the terrorist activities and all those who want to take advantage of such sad incidents," Javed Akhtar said. "Those who are fostering incoherence among Hindus and Muslims do not have any religion at all. We have asked the Chief Minister to investigate the blasts. The culprits should be punished," Sayed Siaf Ahmed, a resident said, adding, "Situations in the city are normal and there is no problem now". The blasts had taken place in the centuries-old Sankat Mochan temple and the city's Cantonment Railway Station barely a week before Holi.

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