Bhopal: Now it has not remained top secret why the Madhya Pradesh’s Shivraj Chouhan government, which has been embroiled in the Vyapam scam, did not nab the prime accused Rajendra Kasawa in Jhabua explosion as he is not only attached to the ruling BJP but also active member of its mentor organization RSS. The blast on Saturday that killed 90 people and left several injured.
After the failure of SIT to trace Kasawa, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a cash award of Rs one lakh who informs the whereabouts of the absconding prime accused. However, eye witnesses claimed that after the explosion, Kasawa had opened the shutter of his store and went to his home and left along with his family. Till now, the eight SIT teams have failed to track him that gives fresh ammunition to the main opposition Congress party to attack the Chouhan government which has already been reeling under the gigantic scam. The party was quick to allege that Kasawa is enjoying the patronage of the BJP.
“Rajendra Kasawa is a member of the BJP,” said Arun Yadav, a Congress leader to a news channel.
Even a Hindi news portal, Bhopal Samachar, published photo of Rajendra Kasawa in Khaki shorts, uniform of RSS taking part in outfit’s drill. The portal said he is not only BJP leader but also works for RSS. According to it, Rajendra Kasawa – man ‘most wanted’ for explosion resulting more than 90 deaths in injuring over 100 at Petlawad town in Jhabua district of MP- had secured license from the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) notwithstanding the fact that he was under constant police surveillance for smuggling of explosives for the last 3 decades. While police and PESO officials are now shifting onus on each other’s, sources in the intelligence department said Kasawa was first arrested by Jhabua police for illegal possession of explosives 34 years ago. His family was into illegal transportation of explosives since 80s. Police recovered 69 detonators from near the site. A series of explosions ripped through a restaurant on Saturday morning as labourers and children ate their breakfast, destroying the diner and nearby buildings and sending debris hurtling into the street where travelers queued for buses in the morning rush hour.
Police recovered the detonators from the residence of a local businessman, Rajendra Kasawa. Police is in the lookout for Kasawa for illegally storing gelatin sticks and other explosives next to a restaurant and busy junction in the town of Petlawad, officials said. NIA team is at the spot to conduct the probe.
A case under the Explosives Act and Section 304 of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) has been registered against Kasawa and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the incident.
Protesters, including Congressmen, came out on the roads in large numbers shouting slogans against the Chouhan government and district administration, alleging that it had not taken appropriate steps to prevent the tragedy and demanded stern action against officials for the lapse.