Date:29/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/29/stories/2008102960171200.htm

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Malegaon blast: two more held

Rahi Gaikwad

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested Sameer Kulkarni and Ramesh Upadhyay in connection with the September 29 Malegaon blast. The two have been charged under Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. ATS counsel Ajay Misar said the suspects would be produced in the Nashik court on Wednesday.

Reports indicate that Kulkarni is a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly linked to the Pune-based organisation, Abhinav Bharat. Ramesh Upadhyay is a retired Major. He is said to have taught at the Bhonsala Military School.

On Monday Mr. Misar, who had come to the Nashik to seek permission for conducting narco tests on suspect Sadhvi Pragnya Thakur, told reporters: “The accused [unidentified till then] will have to be produced in the court within 24 hours of arrest.” However, he did not comment on whether any arrest had been made. While reports of the arrest of certain Army officers have been doing the rounds for nearly three days, no one was produced at the Nashik court till Tuesday. Journalists had a long wait at the Nashik court on Monday.

The ATS has held no media briefing except to announce the three arrests.

Four alleged suspects are believed to have links with the Bhosala Military School. The Nashik-based school has a branch in Nagpur.

With the new arrests, the number of suspects held in connection with the Malegaon blast stands at five. Pragnya Singh Chandrapal Singh Thakur, Shiv Narayan Gopal Singh Kalsanghra and Shyam Bhawarlal Sahu were arrested earlier.

Raids in M.P.

The investigating agency has branched out its operations in Madhya Pradesh, even as its activities in Maharashtra continue.

On Sunday, the ATS reportedly picked up one person from Madhya Pradesh and brought him here after conducting raids in Bhopal, Indore, Dewas, Jabalpur and Gwalior.

Mr. Misar said the ATS would conduct brain-mapping, narco and polygraph tests on Sadhvi Pragya, now that it obtained court permission. During the hearing before joint civil judge A.N. Khadse, Mr. Misar said the Sadhvi who “played a key role” in the blast, which killed six people and injured 89 others, was “not cooperating” in the investigation. He said she was not likely to give details during questioning.