Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday dismissed allegations that there was any political interference regarding investigations into the Malegaon blast case saying the probe agencies in the country fun
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday dismissed allegations that there was any political interference regarding investigations into the Malegaon blast case saying the probe agencies in the country function with “full-fledged autonomy”. “All our investigation agencies have full-fledged autonomy. There is no interference from our side or from the government’s side,” the Home Minister said on the sidelines of an event.
The National Investigation Agency had dropped all charges against Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and five others in the 2008 Malegaon blast case in its chargesheet last week and even dropped the stringent MCOCA law were against all the other 10 accused, including Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit.
When asked about a time frame by when NIA investigators could go to Pakistan to conduct their probe in the Pathankot terror attack case, Mr Singh said foreign secretaries of the two countries have spoken.
“That time Pakistan’s response was positive. NIA also wants to go there and talks have taken place at the Foreign Secretary level,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NIA has arrested Abdul Wahid Siddibapa, a key operative of terror outfit Indian Mujahideen from the Indira Gandhi International. Sources said Siddibapa, a resident of Bhatkal in Karnataka, was arrested immediately after he landed here following his deportation from Dubai.
''Siddibapa’s arrest is yet another example of increased co-operation across countries to deal with the menace of terrorism. He is an important catch for us and can provide valuable information regarding operations of IM both in India and other countries,’’a senior NIA official said.
Siddibapa was operating out of Dubai for some time now and was largely responsible for raising funds and recruiting cadres to carryout subversive activities against India. This is the second biggest IM operative nabbed by security agencies as about two years ago they had managed to arrest Yaseen Bhatkal, who was heading IM’s India operations.
Siddibapa is wanted in a case pertaining to a conspiracy by IM to attack various places in India. He was held on the basis of a warrant of arrest and a Red Corner Notice already issued against him, NIA officials said.
