Army officer arrested over Malegaon bomb blast

Nasik (Maharashtra), Nov 6 : An army officer has been arrested in connection with Malegaon and Modasa bomb blasts in September that killed five people.

Officers from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Mumbai questioned Lieutenant-Colonel Srikant Prasad Purohit, for days before finally arresting him on Wednesday.

A local court in Maharashtra's Nasik remanded Purohit to police custody till November 15 and also approved the conducting of narco analysis test on him.

The officer is accused of helping militants with bomb making and other logistic support in the attack in the Muslim-dominated towns of Malegaon and Modasa in Maharashtra.

Minister of State for Home Affairs (Interior) Sri Prakash Jaiswal said the development was disturbing.

"It is unfortunate that involvement of military officials is being found in the investigations. But at the same time it is noteworthy that if any high official or politician is found involved they are not spared," Jaiswal told reporters in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad.

A retired soldier was also questioned in the case.

The ATS began interrogating Lt. Colonel Purohit after his name cropped up in investigations following the arrest of two retired army officers for their role in the Malegaon blasts.

Purohit is suspected to have helped bomb blast accused sadhvi Pragya Thakur, retired Army Major Ramesh Upadhyaya and his associate Sameer Kulkarni in procuring RDX used in the blasts.

Six other people have already been arrested in connection with the blasts.

Ajay Eknath Rahirkar, Jagdish Chintamani Mhatre and Rakesh Dattaram Dhawade were arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Sunday.

Earlier, Pragya Singh Thakur (a god woman), former Army official Ramesh Upadhyay and Sameer Kulkarni were arrested in connection with the blast.

A Nashik court on Monday sent Sadhvi Pragya Thakur to judicial custody till Novenber17, while the custody of other two accused - Ramesh Upadhyay and Sameer Kulkarni- will end on November 10.

ANI