[Reader-list] ATS takes U-turn on Purohit, denies RDX was used in Samjhauta Express blast

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

ATS takes U-turn on Purohit, denies RDX was used in Samjhauta Express blast

Mumbai, Nov 17: Taking a U-turn from its earlier stance the Maharashtra
Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Sunday denied that 60 kg of RDX, which
Malegaon blast accused Lt Col Srikant Prasad Purohit had pilfered, was used
in the Samjhauta Express blast in February 2007 that claimed around 70
lives, most of them Pakistani passengers.

On Saturday itself, public prosecutor Ajay Misar representing the ATS had
told a Nashik court that RDX was used in the Samjhauta Express blast.

But on Sunday he came out accusing the media of wrongly interpreting his
statement in the court. Clarifying himself Misar said that he had told the
court that the police is still investigating whether the 60kg RDX was used
in some of the blasts carried out across the country, including the
September Malegaon blast.

Earlier, Misar had told Chief Judicial Magistrate H K Gantra of Nashik court
that a person named Bhagwan had received 60 kg RDX from Malegaon blast
accused Lt Col Purohit. According to an ATS witness Purohit had 60 kg RDX in
his possession while posted in Deolali, Nashik and was supposed to hand over
the explosive at the Army's artillery department in J&K. The witness further
said that Purohit failed to hand over over the explosive to the Army and
instead told them that he had thrown it into the Jhelum river in J&K. He
later gave the RDX to a person named Bhagwan.

However, Misar did not give any details whether the Army had launched any
investigation into the case.

Forensic analysis report of the Samjhauta Express blast had said that the
material used in the blast was a highly flammable cocktail of fuel oils,
potassium chlorate and sulphur.

Agencies

Link - http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2008-11-17/484193news.html