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| Col Purohit now linked to Samjhauta explosion | | | Agencies
Mumbai, Nov 15: Lt Colonel Srikant Purohit allegedly procured 60 kgs of RDX from Jammu and Kashmir in 2006, a part of which is suspected to have been used in the Malegaon blast and also in the Samjhauta Express train explosions, the prosecution told a court in Nashik on Saturday (November 15), giving a new dimension to the ongoing Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) probe.
Purohit, arrested in connection with the Malegaon blast was on Saturday produced before a Nashik court which granted further police custody till November 18 for detailed questioning. The Army officer, among ten arrested in connection with the Malegaon blast, has been subjected to brain-mapping and narco-analysis tests.
Special Prosecutor for the ATS, Ajay Misar told the court that a witness submitted that in 2006 Purohit had claimed he had 60 kgs of RDX in his possession which he had got from Jammu and Kashmir. The RDX is suspected to have been used in the September 29 Malegaon blasts that left six dead and the twin explosions in Samjhauta train last year that killed 68 people. Purohit gave a portion of the RDX to one Bhagwan who is suspected to have used in Samjhauta Express blast, Misar said.
Purohit, 36, who was with Military Intelligence, had told the authorities that he had thrown RDX into the Jhelum River, the special counsel said. However, it is suspected that he transported the RDX to Deolali in Nashik, he said.
Interestingly, Purohit had interacted with the ATS in the past and in 2005 had even given a talk on operational techniques and strategies to them. The investigators suspect that he is closely linked to a little known right wing group Abhinav Bharat.
Purohit is also alleged to have conducted an arms and explosives training camp for members of this group in Panchmarhi in Madhya Pradesh between October 16 and 21 2006, Misar said. The ATS also told the court that it was investigating the source of the RDX which Purohit had obtained.
The Public prosecutor told the court that they had found evidence of links between arrested Sadhvi Pragya Thakur Singh and self-styled guru Dayanand Pandey. The ATS has found during the course of the investigations that Pandey had introduced Purohit to Ramji Kalsangra, who is wanted in the Malegaon blast, Misar said.
The court dismissed an application filed by Purohit's father-in-law alleging torture in police custody after the army official denied it to the court. Also medical records did not show any evidence of physical torture.
Meanwhile, the Haryana Railway police team is in Mumbai and will interrogate Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur. It was established that the suitcase bombs, which blew up two bogies of the Indo-Pak Samjhauta Express train in February last year, were assembled in Indore.
The Haryana Railway police said their investigations in the Samjhauta probe led them to Indore after clues that the suitcase-bombs were assembled in Indore. Haryana Railway police also questioned Dayanand Pandey in connection with the Samjhauta Express blast. The Haryana Railway police said that it was a 'routine investigation'.
According to railway police sources, the team may meet Thakur and other accused arrested by ATS. Thakur had taken 'deeksha' from Swami Awdeshanand Giri, Mahamandleshwar of Joona Akhara, who has a big ashram at Ambala Cantonment.
Bharti Arora, a member of Special Investigating Team probing the Samjhauta Express blast, had then claimed a vital clue was found in this regard. The railway police had also taken a few persons into custody for interrogation but no concrete lead was found.
In the mean time, the prime accused in the Malegaon blasts case, Purohit, appeared before the Nashik court today and rubbished claims made by his lawyer that he was tortured by the Anti Terror Squad (ATS) police. Purohit was produced before the court as the ATS sought to extend his remand.
The Armyman in his narco analysis has confessed to wanting to avenge terror attacks carried out by Students Islamic Movement of India (Simi). The Narco tests, though not admissible in court, could throw up vital clues for investigators. Purohit revealed that other alleged conspirators, Thakur and Pandey, who are now under arrest, were also involved in planning the attack.
Purohit met the Sadhvi through Pandey, sources revealed. He also said that Pandey was also involved in the Ajmer and Nanded blasts where more than 500 people were trained to carry out the attacks. Some of what Purohit said about the role of Pandey has been corroborated by the ATS in court.
Pandey is now emerging as a key link as the ATS told the court that Pandey fixed the meeting between Purohit and Ramji Kalsangra. The ATS also said that Pandey told Purohit to arrange for explosives and received money from Abhinav Bharat treasurer. The revelations could help piece together the Malegaon puzzle.
However, ATS is questioning four principal players in the Malegaon case. This includes Col Ajay Rahirkar, Bhonsala Military School's former principal. Rahikar is said to have transferred huge amount of funds to Pandey's account.
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