CM says Gaurav has no links with terrorist group

Shimla, May 29 (UNI) Denying reports in a section of the press that Gaurav had links with terrorist organisations, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said investigations have so far not provided any such evidence.

''Investigations have so far revealed that he has no links with any terrorist groups. However, investigations are on and then only we will know the truth,'' he told UNI after taking part in the fourteenth convocation of the HP University here.

Gaurav, who arrived at Hamirpur in the same helicopter with the Swami and the chief minister, was detained on Saturday night from a rest house where the Swami was staying.

Mr Singh said Gaurav was the person who handed over a list of the people, who were to board the helicopter at Chandigarh, to the state government officials who never checked on their antecedents since they were in the Swami's entourage.

Besides Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Police, the IB was also investigating the matter, a through inquiry would reveal the whole truth, he said.

''I had read in a section of the newspapers, which said, he is a member of the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group, which is not true. He is no more than a small time journalist and has no link with any terrorist organisation,'' he said.

The chief minister ruled out any commission for conducting an inquiry into the matter.

Advising the media not to twist facts, he said the media should be more cautious when reporting on sensitive issues like these.

UNI AS PS MSJ VC1926