Sunday, November 9, 2008

Malegaon Blasts: Two More Held


Investigations into the Malegaon bomb blast on Saturday revealed new dimensions amid speculation that some more serving and retired army officials could be involved as Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) picked up two more persons for questioning.

Investigations are underway to discover possible links of nine arrested in the Malegaon case with the 2006 Nanded blasts in which CBI has charge-sheeted 10 people allegedly belonging to Bajrang Dal.

While ATS officials remained tightlipped on the probe, sources in the investigating agency said two persons were picked up from Vapi and Pune in connection with the Malegaon blast on September 29 that killed six people.

The Army has requested presence of some of its Military Intelligence officials during the brain mapping and narco- analysis of Lt Colonel Srikant Purohit, the first serving Army officer to be arrested by the ATS in connection with the blast.

Purohit is suspected to have masterminded the blast providing financial support and deadly RDX used in the bombing.

Top ATS officials, who met top Army brass yesterday, drew a blank when they asked about the laptop of Purohit, which has mysteriously disappeared from Pachmarhi in after he was shifted to Mumbai on October 29.

The ATS believes that Purohit's laptop contains vital information besides a list of 54 people who were trained in a military school in Pune. Purohit's leave records have been given to the probe agencies.

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