The Hindu : National : ATS denies linking Purohit to Samjhauta blast

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ATS denies linking Purohit to Samjhauta blast

Rahi Gaikwad

NASHIK: The Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) has denied that Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit is linked to the Samjhauta blast.

ATS counsel Ajay Misar clarified on Monday that he had made no statement to the effect that Lt. Col. Purohit had links with the Samjhauta blast. He said the media misrepresented his statement in court on Saturday.

However, he refused to clarify the exact nature of his submission in court.

According to the statement of a witness in court, which was presented by Mr. Misar, Lt. Col. Purohit had 60 kg of RDX in his possession. Some of it was allegedly used in the Malegaon blast and some for the Samjhauta blast. The RDX was given to a person known as Bhagwan for the Samjhauta blast. Bhagwan’s role is still to be probed.

ATS sources said no RDX was used in the Samjhauta blast and, besides, the Maharashtra ATS was only probing the Malegaon blast.

Meanwhile, a Haryana police team is interrogating Lt. Col. Purohit in connection with some other blasts. The ATS sources refused to clarify which were the blasts in question.

Modassa blast

Meanwhile, the Gujarat police sought the Nashik court’s permission to interrogate all the Malegaon blast suspects, hitherto arrested by the ATS, in connection with the Modassa blast in Sabarkantha. This application is pending. It was not considered in the court on Monday as there is no provision under the law to for such an interrogation.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Sabarkantha, K.K. Mysorewala told the media that the police did not seek custody but only wanted to “ask” the suspects. The Modassa blast took place on the same day and time as the Malegaon blast, he said. Moreover, “the same modus operandi of explosives attached to motorcycles was used.” A Hero Honda Passion was used in the Modassa blast. The Gujarat police have not arrested anyone for the blast. “We do not have any evidence. The chassis number of the motorcycle was deleted and there is no eyewitness,” said Mr. Mysorewala.

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