Gaurav has no links with terrorists, says Police

Hamirpur, June 1 (UNI) Admitting that Gaurav had no links with terrorist groups, a senior Himachal Pradesh Police official today said he was ''off track boy with negative thoughts,'' which had got him ''into trouble.'' Talking to mediapersons here DIG (Mandi range), Yog Raj Thakur, said Gaurav was an ''off track'' and an ''ambitious'' boy who wanted to make it big in any manner and this got him in trouble here.

Gaurav, who arrived here in the same helicopter with Swami Ramdev and the chief minister, was detained on May 27 night from a rest house where the Swami was staying after he confessed to the state police that he had been engaged by a militant organisation to kill him.

Mr Raj said police investigations have so far revealed that he had no links with terrorists, adding that a police official was in Delhi to verify his antecedents.

Hamirpur SP Daljit Thakur, ASP Yashbir Pathania and DSP Mohinder Singh were present during the press conference.

The DIG said police teams of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh had found that Gaurav was not ''stable'' and was not living with his father.

After the boy found himself short of funds, he forged the signatures of his maternal grandfather, with whom he was staying at present alongwith his mother, and issued cheques to several people, he said.

The DIG said when Gaurav's maternal grandfather demanded his money back from him, he gave him the slip and came to Hamirpur along with Swami Ramdev.

Replying to a question as to why he had confessed to the police that he was terrorist, Mr Raj said this he said ''under confusion'' and in front of police officials and mediapersons.

He, however, declined to say whether the police would also record statements of Swami Ramdev, members of the helicopter crew and CM's security officials for the security lapse.

Meanwhile, a team of Uttaranchal police landed here today to provide security to the Swami. The team met the Hamirpur SP and discussed the issue in detail, official sources said.

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