Indian police released sketches Tuesday of two men suspected of planting a pair of bombs that sparked a fire on a train barrelling through northern India for Pakistan, killing 68 people in an attack officials said was intended to disrupt relations between the two countries.

These sketches released by the Indian police in Panipat, India, on Tuesday are of two men suspected by police of planting a pair of bombs that sparked a fire on a train barreling through northern India for Pakistan, killing 68 people.
(Indian Police/Associated Press)

The two, whose identities are not known, boarded the train when it left New Delhi on Sunday and soon began arguing with the conductor, saying they were on the wrong train.

They were allowed to jump off when the train slowed down about 15 to 20 minutes before the crude bombs detonated, said Sharad Kumar, a senior police official.

The attack "is the handiwork of a militant outfit, but we don't know which group is involved," he told reporters.

The attack appeared intended to disrupt India-Pakistan relations, but following the attack leaders of the South Asian rivals said they would press ahead with their peace process.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri was expected to arrive in the Indian capital later Tuesday for previously scheduled talks.

Meanwhile, a Pakistani passenger on the train was detained Tuesday for questioning, Indian officials said.

'Found in a drunken state'

"He was found in a drunken state and he's being questioned. But his account has been inconsistent and we have no definite conclusions yet," said Bharti Arora, a senior Haryana state railway police official. The man is a resident of Karachi, Pakistan, she said, declining to provide further details.

Pakistani protesters burn an Indian flag to condemn Sunday's deadly train attack.
(K.M. Chaudary/Associated Press)

The fire destroyed two coaches on the Samjhauta Express about an hour after the train left New Delhi on its way to the Pakistan border. The death toll rose to 68 on Tuesday after a badly burned passenger succumbed at a hospital in New Delhi, said N.C. Wadhwa, a government official.

Officials said the attack was timed ahead of Kasuri's arrival.

"This is an attempt to derail the improving relationship between India and Pakistan, Railway Minister Laloo Prasad told reporters Monday.

Pakistan quickly decried the attack, and Indian officials took pains to avoid laying any quick blame. Each side appeared to reach out across the border.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared his country's "abhorrence for this heinous terrorist act," and expressed his condolences by telephone to Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, according to Singh's office. Most of the dead were Pakistani.

'Best possible way to attack a train'

No suspects have been ruled out — from Kashmiri separatists to Hindu extremists.

"The people who are involved in carrying out this attack appear to be well trained. The method used to carry out this attack — low intensity explosives along with incendiary material — is the best possible way to attack a train," R.K. Kaushik, the Haryana state government's expert on ballistic and explosive materials, told the Associated Press.

He said it was too early to determine who was responsible for the attacks. Kaushik and his team of forensic experts were examining the burned coaches for clues.

Speaking to India's CNN-IBN television, Kasuri said "the peace process must go on with greater vigour and greater determination."

Authorities say two suitcases packed with crude unexploded bombs and bottles of gasoline were found in undamaged train cars, indicating the fire had been sparked by similar devices.