ID :
29197
Sat, 11/08/2008 - 22:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/29197
The shortlink copeid
Malegaon blast: Two picked up from Vapi and Pune
Mumbai, Nov 8 (PTI) Two persons were picked up from Vapi and Pune by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (A.T.S.) in connection with the Malegaon blast probe amid concerns that more army officers may come under the scanner.
Leave records of arrested Lt. Col P.S. Purohit, suspected to have masterminded the September 29 blast, have been given to the investigating agencies, official sources said Saturday.
Two serving Colonels may also face interrogation. There
were reports that a retired Lt. General could also be quizzed
but there was no official word on it.
No details were immediately forthcoming about the two
persons picked up from Vapi and Pune.
A.T.S. officials said nine persons, including a Sadhvi
and a serving army officer, arrested for their alleged
involvement in the blast could be booked under the stringent
Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (M.C.O.C.A.) act.
"The application of some sections of Maharashtra Control
of Organised Crime Act (M.C.O.C.A.) is being considered
presently," they said.
Under M.C.O.C.A., those convicted can get a maximum
punishment of life imprisonment and a minimum of five years
and police can keep the accused in detention for 180 days to
file their chargesheet as against the normal 90-day period.
The accused in the blast that left six people dead have
been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code
(I.P.C.) including murder and conspiracy, Indian Explosives
Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The A.T.S. officials had said they were still on the
lookout for a suspect identified as Ramji, who is suspected to
have played a major role in planting the bomb in the town.
A Colonel who may be probed is posted in Deolali in
Nashik while the Lt. Colonel is based in Pune.
According to the sources, Army is contemplating action
against Purohit under Section 21 B of the Army Act which
prohibits military personnel from having any political
affiliations.
The A.T.S. is investigating the possible involvement
of some of the accused in earlier blasts like the 2006 Nanded
blast in which two persons were killed while making a bomb.
The A.T.S. has taken permission to conduct scientific
tests like brain mapping, polygraph and narco-analysis on
Purohit.
However, the Forensic Science Laboratory (F.S.L.) has
not yet given a schedule regarding when the tests will be
conducted, A.T.S. officials said.
Scientific tests have been conducted on Sadhvi Pragya
Singh Thakur, former army officer Ramesh Upadhyay and senior
member of the organisation Abhinav Bharat Sameer Kulkarni.
A senior Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I.)
official from Delhi of Joint Director rank has met A.T.S.
officials, adding another dimension to the ongoing probe.
Government's worries have been voiced by Defence
Minister A.K. Antony who said the alleged involvement of a
serving officer (Purohit) in the Malegaon blasts was a matter
of "serious concern."
Necessary action will be taken against him by the
Defence Ministry on the basis of the Maharashtra police's
investigation report in the case.
"On the part of the Army, without any hesitation, they
are fully assisting and cooperating with the investigating
agencies. We are waiting for a report from the Maharashtra
police and I can tell you, we are taking it seriously," he
said. PTI
Leave records of arrested Lt. Col P.S. Purohit, suspected to have masterminded the September 29 blast, have been given to the investigating agencies, official sources said Saturday.
Two serving Colonels may also face interrogation. There
were reports that a retired Lt. General could also be quizzed
but there was no official word on it.
No details were immediately forthcoming about the two
persons picked up from Vapi and Pune.
A.T.S. officials said nine persons, including a Sadhvi
and a serving army officer, arrested for their alleged
involvement in the blast could be booked under the stringent
Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (M.C.O.C.A.) act.
"The application of some sections of Maharashtra Control
of Organised Crime Act (M.C.O.C.A.) is being considered
presently," they said.
Under M.C.O.C.A., those convicted can get a maximum
punishment of life imprisonment and a minimum of five years
and police can keep the accused in detention for 180 days to
file their chargesheet as against the normal 90-day period.
The accused in the blast that left six people dead have
been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code
(I.P.C.) including murder and conspiracy, Indian Explosives
Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The A.T.S. officials had said they were still on the
lookout for a suspect identified as Ramji, who is suspected to
have played a major role in planting the bomb in the town.
A Colonel who may be probed is posted in Deolali in
Nashik while the Lt. Colonel is based in Pune.
According to the sources, Army is contemplating action
against Purohit under Section 21 B of the Army Act which
prohibits military personnel from having any political
affiliations.
The A.T.S. is investigating the possible involvement
of some of the accused in earlier blasts like the 2006 Nanded
blast in which two persons were killed while making a bomb.
The A.T.S. has taken permission to conduct scientific
tests like brain mapping, polygraph and narco-analysis on
Purohit.
However, the Forensic Science Laboratory (F.S.L.) has
not yet given a schedule regarding when the tests will be
conducted, A.T.S. officials said.
Scientific tests have been conducted on Sadhvi Pragya
Singh Thakur, former army officer Ramesh Upadhyay and senior
member of the organisation Abhinav Bharat Sameer Kulkarni.
A senior Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I.)
official from Delhi of Joint Director rank has met A.T.S.
officials, adding another dimension to the ongoing probe.
Government's worries have been voiced by Defence
Minister A.K. Antony who said the alleged involvement of a
serving officer (Purohit) in the Malegaon blasts was a matter
of "serious concern."
Necessary action will be taken against him by the
Defence Ministry on the basis of the Maharashtra police's
investigation report in the case.
"On the part of the Army, without any hesitation, they
are fully assisting and cooperating with the investigating
agencies. We are waiting for a report from the Maharashtra
police and I can tell you, we are taking it seriously," he
said. PTI
