Tuesday, Apr 16, 2024 | Last Update : 12:46 PM IST
UP cops to seek Diva saboteur’s custody
The trio was in contact with a person in Nepal, who was passing on the instructions, acquired from Huda, who was in Dubai then.
Mumbai; The Uttar Pradesh (UP) police is likely to seek custody of arrested Diva train sabotage mastermind Maula Makandar to question him in connection with the Kanpur train derailment in November last year in which at least 150 commuters died.
UP police teams are questioning Makandar in Mumbai, to ascertain if he is linked with Shamsul Huda, the alleged mastermind of Kanpur derailment and an agent of Pakistan’s ISI, who was detained in Nepal, in February, with the help of Indian agencies.
Following the Indore-Patna train derailment in Kanpur, the Intelligence Agencies swung into action after the Bihar police arrested a trio from East Champaran district who allegedly worked for Pakistan’s ISI and were behind the derailment.
The trio was in contact with a person in Nepal, who was passing on the instructions, acquired from Huda, who was in Dubai then. Huda arrived in Nepal and was apprehended after the intelligence agencies received a tip-off from the Nepal police.
UP police is searching for aides of Huda and is questioning Makandar. Makandar was sent to judicial custody after the Thane Government Railway Police (GRP) interrogated him in Diva rail sabotage case.
Earlier, the investigation had revealed that Makandar had offered five drug addicts `2,000 for placing the rail rod on the tracks on January 24 night.
“During questioning, Makandar claimed that he tried to take advantage of the five persons, who are residents of his neighbourhood in Mumbra, and challenged them to ‘show their strength’ by place the metal rod on the tracks. The five were discussing shortage of funds to pay their rent following which Makandar challenged them,” said a GRP officer, requesting anonymity.
The real motive behind Makandar’s action is still unclear, as the officials have refused to believe his version.
