Click to play videoChandigarh: In February 2007, deadly explosions rocked the Samjhauta Express running between India and Pakistan, leaving 68 dead and 50 injured. Almost two years later there are no arrests, no chargesheets and no trials in the case. Worse still, there is utter confusion within the Haryana Police investigating the case.
Soon after the Samjhauta blasts, the forensic report released then suggested that no RDX was used and other chemicals such as potassium chlorate, sulphor and fuel oil were used. RDX 'like' particles were traced in such a low quantities that it was not possible to confirm RDX presence.
DIG, R C Mishra had said at that time, "The explosives were packed in a suitcase and there was a timer, which showed that it was a crude device. The bogeys caught fire because of the petrol kept in them."
But now, close on the heels of Maharashtra ATS making claims that Army RDX may have been used in the Samjhauta Express blasts, the Haryana Special Investigation Team (SIT) seems to have taken a complete U-Turn.
SP Haryana SIT, Bharati Arora said, "The blasts case is still under investigation."
Almost two years after the Samjhauta blasts, the Haryana Police is clutching at straws even as it is bogged down by internal contradictions. As different state police forces seek Lt Col Purohit's custody, internal flip-flops and contradictions are making blast investigations seem like shots in the dark.
Haryana Police sources tell CNN-IBN that Lt Col Prasad Purohit is also likely to be questioned by the CBI in connection with the Mecca Masjid blast in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, a defiant Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and six other co-accused have been sent to judicial custody till November 29.
Pragya's lawyer filed an application before the court alleging illtreatment by the ATS. Retd Major Ramesh Upadhyay - another accused in the case - has also alleged that ATS was denying him legal aid.
Special Public Prosecutor of the ATS, Ajay Misar said, "RDX has been found on Lt Col Purohit. Whether the RDX has been used in the Samjhauta blasts or not will be told to the court after three days."
The Nashik Magistrate has instructed the Gujarat Police to seek permission from a Gujarat court to interrogate some accused in connection with the Modasa blast.
(With inputs from Toral Varia in Mumbai)
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