Date:19/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/19/stories/2008111961281200.htm

National

Advani wants judicial probe

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani on Tuesday demanded that a judicial probe be ordered into charges of torture made by the Malegaon blast accused, Sadhvi Pragnya Singh Thakur, against the Anti-Terrorism Squad of the Maharashtra police.

Till now Mr. Advani had not said a word on the investigations in Maharashtra into the Malegaon blasts, but the party leaders have strongly defended Sadhvi Pragnya and the serving army officer arrested by the police.

On Tuesday Mr. Advani broke his silence and said he was shocked by Sadhvi Pragnya’s affidavit before the Nashik court that she had been “physically and psychologically tortured and abused in obscene language” by her police interrogators.

Speaking at an election rally in Raipur, Mr. Advani described the Maharashtra ATS charges against Sadhvi Pragnya as “shocking” and said the “present ATS team has lost all moral authority” to continue with its investigations. He demanded that the team be “changed totally” and a “judicial inquiry be ordered to probe the charges made by Sadhvi Pragnya and the manner in which unsubstantiated allegations have been made against serving Army personnel.”