PC seeks views on shifting Hindu terror probe to NIA
The Union home ministry has written letters to the CBI and state governments concerned asking them whether they would like to hand over all “Hindu terror” cases, including the Malegaon blasts of 2006 and 2008, the Ajmer Dargah blasts case of 2007 and the 2007 Mecca Masjid blasts case, to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
In another significant development, the MHA has also asked the Madhya Pradesh government to hand over the Sunil Joshi murder case to the NIA.
“A decision will be taken shortly after obtaining the views of the CBI and the states concerned,” a senior government official said.
The move has come after key Malegaon blast suspect Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur was placed under arrest by the Madhya Pradesh police in connection with the murder of Hindu extremist leader Sunil Joshi, a suspect in the Samjhauta Express blasts. Joshi was murdered in mysterious circumstances at Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, in December 2007, soon after the Ajmer and Mecca Masjid blasts. Joshi is suspected to have been a key organiser of the gang responsible for the Malegaon, Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Sharif blasts.
The MHA , in its communication sent a fortnight ago, has sought the comments of the CBI and Maharashtra and Rajasthan governments on whether they are keen to hand over the investigations to the NIA. The NIA is already probing the 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing and the 2008 Modasa blast case, which have pointed towards the role of extremist Hindu outfits. The NIA Act empowers the Centre to take over from the state police any case with terror linkages. “The NIA Act empowers the agency to take up cases which are either recommended by the states, after obtaining the state government’s nod, or suo moto take up investigation of terror-related cases,” the official explained.
The CBI is currently probing the 2006 Malegaon blasts and the 2007 Mecca Masjid blasts, the Maharashtra ATS is investigating the 2008 Malegaon bomb blasts while the 2007 Ajmer dargah blasts case investigation is with the Rajasthan ATS. The NIA, however, found common linkages in the cases following the confessional statement of arrested Hindu extremist leader Swami Aseemanand where he admitted having planned terror attacks on Ajmer Sharif, Mecca Masjid, Malegaon and the Samjhauta Express.
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