NIA: Purohit was no military mole
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has categorically ruled out any possibility of Lt. Col. Purohit being a mole of the military intelligence who had infiltrated into the right-wing extremist outfit Abhinav Bharat as part of a covert operation. Abhinav Bharat is alleged to be behind the Malegaon blasts.
NIA sources claim that there was enough evidence to prove that Lt. Col. Purohit was in fact actively involved with the saffron terror network in the country. Importantly, the investigating agency claims that there is information which shows the Army official had been involved at various stages of planning the conspiracy to trigger blasts.
In fact, investigating officials claim that the probe regarding the large picture of unearthing the saffron terror network was at a critical stage and several key issues were being investigated. “We need to see what role did people like Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya have in the elimination of Sunil Joshi the mastermind of the Samjhauta and Malegaon blasts. Joshi’s questioning would have revealed a lot of facts which would have put a lot of influential people in an uncomfortable position,” a senior official said.
Investigations into the right-wing terror network have already revealed that there was plan to eliminate RSS leader Indresh as well. Sources claim the NIA has got some important fresh leads in the case and may soon recover even the weapon which was to be used for eliminating Indresh who has already been questioned by the CBI in connection with the Mecca Masjid blast case.
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Centre mulls ban on onion export
MANISH ANAND
New Delhi, July 10
Amid growing concern over food inflation and likely price spiral of onion after the rainy season, the Centre has initiated an inter-ministerial consultation on steps needed to keep the price of the politically-sensitive consumer item under check.
The ministry of consumer affairs is said to be of the view that the impact of the export of onions be examined to ensure that onion prices do not go beyond control. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is likely to examine the views of various ministries on the status of onion stock and availability this month.
“Even though export of onion has been allowed, there is a growing realisation that the annual feature of the price of the onion becoming dear after the rainy season is not ruled out. Our ministry does not favour export of onion, so we will take a stand to boost the availability of onion in the domestic market in the CCEA meeting,” said a senior official of the ministry of consumer affairs.
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