Investigations by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have for the first time come across credible evidence revealing that all the three sensational blasts in — Samjhauta train, at Malegaon and Ajmer — were masterminded by Sunil Joshi. The three blasts, seen as a retaliatory move by the saffron terror, were meticulously planned by Joshi who interestingly was later murdered under suspicious circumstances.
Investigations by the NIA have also confirmed that Joshi used three separate modules for these blasts and as a result one module did not know what the other one was doing. Though NIA officials are extremely tight-lipped about the investigations saying these were at a crucial juncture sources within the agency confirmed that it appears that Joshi also had access to RDX. However, the probe has hit a dead-end, sources added, as far as identifying the source of RDX is concerned. It is also confirmed that the IEDs used in the three explosions were in fact configured by Joshi and he merely handed them to the modules to plant them at a strategic location.
What the National Investigation Agency is also trying to ascertain is whether Joshi and his saffron terror network was also behind the Mecca Masjid blast at Hyderabad or not. This case is presently being investigated by the CBI.
Sources said interrogation of Lokesh Sharma, an accused arrested by the NIA in connection with the Samjhauta blast case, has given important leads to the agency. Sharma who has also been arrested in connection with the Malegaon blast was on Tuesday granted bail by a Mumbai court as the National Investigation Agency could not file the chargesheet against him within the mandatory 90 day period.