NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Amin Babu Ahmed in Kolkata
Three Bangladeshis, teaching in madarsas in West Bengal, were on Wednesday taken into custody by police investigating the attack on the United States Information Service office in Kolkata.
Two others are also said to be in the custody of the Bashirhat police at North 24 Parganas district.
Investigators have been reluctant to give details about the development.
They have even refused to confirm the authenticity of the telephone call purportedly made by Dubai-based don Farhan Mullick, alias Asif Ansari, taking responsibility for the attacks.
Meanwhile, Special Secretary in the Union ministry of home affairs, Ashok Bhandari, rushed to Kolkata after initial investigations indicated involvement of Dubai-based terrorists with links to Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence.
The CCTV (closed circuit television) at the USIS office is providing the primary clues to the investigating officers.
The tapes were handed over to the Calcutta police by the USIS authorities when the US consulate general met the home secretary at Writer's Building on Wednesday afternoon.
The tapes are said to be carrying clear pictures of the assailants and the motorcycles they were riding.
Bhandari discussed the developments with state chief secretary and the state Home Secretary A K Dev to discuss the situation arising out of the attack.
He also visited the USIS office and the consulate where he met Consulate General Christopher Sandrolini.
"There have not been any arrests or detentions in this regard, but we have got a few clues that we cannot divulge at this moment," state Home Secretary A K Dev said.
"If required we might work together along with our central agencies and the FBI to carry further investigations," he added. An FBI official had visited the city to take stock of the investigation.
"The shootout cannot be termed as merely a terrorist attack," said Rex Moser, the director of the USIS office over phone just a day after the centre resumed usual business on Wednesday morning. "We are in close contact with our embassy in Delhi and the state government officials. As far as we are concerned, I believe the situation is under control and we are satisfied with the security arrangements made by the government," Christopher said.
Meanwhile, the USIS office and the American consulate resumed business with increased security.
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