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Samjhauta Express blast: NIA back to probing Lashkar-e-Taiba link

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New Delhi, Apr 4: The investigation into the Samjhauta blasts case may take another turn with a team of the National Investigation Agency exploring the role of Arif Kasmani.

An NIA team is seeking evidence from the United States of America regarding Kasmani, a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative who is alleged to have funded the blasts on the Samjhauta Express.

Samjhauta Express: NIA probing LeT link

On February 18 2007 bombs planted in two carriages of the Samjautha Express exploded killing 68 persons and injuring several others. It was stated after the blast that it was the handiwork of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

However the probe a year later took a complete different turn with investigators blaming a group called the Abhinav Bharat.

Help from US sought

A team of the NIA led by the DIG, Sharad Kumar is visiting the United States of America to seek more evidence on the role of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. It is not a u-turn said an NIA official to OneIndia.

It may be recalled that it was the US treasury department which had suggested in June 2009 that Kasmani could have funded the operation.

The NIA team will meet with officials in the US including those from the FBI to seek out more details regarding the case and the Kasmani angle. If the Kasmani angle is ascertained then it becomes clear that there was a hand of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba in the blasts.

Several turns

The case has seen several turns since the investigations commenced. At first it was blamed on the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Students Islamic Movement of India

Later on investigators suggested that it could have been the handiwork of the Abhinav Bharat. The NIA team had even obtained a confession from Swami Aseemanand who was named as an accused in the case. During the confession, he speaks about the role of the Abhinav Bharat.

However the confession could not be used as Aseemanand denied giving any such confession. An accused has a right to deny a confession in police custody stating that it was obtained under duress.

The NIA following this has not been able to gather any concrete evidence to link the Abhinav Bharat. With the probe hitting a dead end the NIA has decided to take a re-look into the Lashkar-e-Taiba angle.

OneIndia News

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