National   

`Modi was on hit list'

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD APRIL 18. The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, and nine others, including Haren Pandya and a senior police officer, were on the hit list of Asghar Ali, the ISI operative who was arrested here in connection with Pandya's killing.

After studying the movements of his targets for about 30 days, Ali reportedly zeroed in on Pandya, mainly due to the predictability of his movements, while the others were "well-protected", according to police sources.

Ali, who was briefly interrogated here before being flown to Delhi in a chartered flight, reportedly indicated that Pandya was literally a sitting duck since he used to go for the morning walk, punctually arriving at the spot. After stopping his car, he used to drink water and then get out to go for his walk. It was at this time that Ali walked up to him and shot him, sources said, quoting his preliminary confession.

Ali is believed to have justified the killing saying it was Pandya who monitored the "inaction" of police as riots erupted in the State following the Godhra incident. He held Pandya responsible for the "unspeakable" atrocities committed against the minorities. Interestingly, even after the attempt on the life of the VHP vice-president, Jagadish Tiwari, in the State, barely a week before Pandya's killing, security was not stepped up for the former Minister. This worked to Ali's advantage.

Incidentally, it was Ali's close associate, Safi, who was involved in the attempt on Tiwari's life. Safi was today picked up from Jeedimetla on the outskirts of the city by CBI officials.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Entertainment | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Vajpayee's speech, a bid to regain initiative
• `Modi was on hit list'
• SC to establish e-courts
• Congress plans `programme of action'
• `Babri masjid demolition made Asghar Ali a fundamentalist'
• Clarification on Hindu article on AJT
• Pilot project for computerisation of courts in metros
• Arun Jaitley meets U.S. Congressmen
• Everest goes online
• India, Japan launch strategic dialogue
• Cong. will retain power in M.P., Delhi: Govindacharya
• FICCI to make a case for Indian cos.
• Jakhar condemns Ajit Singh's action

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu