New Delhi, December 16: Hindu religious leader Swami Asimanand, who is an accused in the blast cases of three cities —Ajmer, Malegoan and Hyderabad — may have played a role in the Modasa blast in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is investigating these three blast cases has reportedly got hints that the religious leader is connected to the Modasa blast as well.
The NIA team got the hints while questioning Asimanand who is now in its custody. A team of the agency has now brought the religious leader to Dangs, from where he operated before the blasts, for investigation.
According to sources, so far it was suspected that Asimanand and his subordinates could be connected to the Modasa blast. However, after intensive grilling of Asimanand, he reportedly spilled the beans on the Modasa blast.
“Asimanand could be connected to the Modasa blast and NIA is investigating in this line,” a source familiar with the development told DNA.
The source also said that during the initial phase of the investigation, the Gujarat police slowed the pace of the probe when it headed towards an alleged Hindu terror wing. But now, after more than two years, it is hoped this case will be investigated as the NIA has taken over the probe.
The modus operandi in the Modasa blast is similar to the ones used in Malegaon, Ajmer and Hyderabad blasts. Sources said that the NIA, after taking over the investigations from the Sabarkantha police, headed to Vadodara to look for two youths.
The motorbike in which the bomb was planted was stolen from Surat and drove to Vadodara.
The youths allegedly parked the motorbike outside Sukha Bazaar mosque in Modasa on September 29, 2008. In the blast, a 15-year-old boy was killed and 10 people were injured.
After the blast, the Sabarkantha police tried to interrogate Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and her subordinates but could not proceed further in the investigation. The Sabarkantha police had recorded the statements of some 500-odd people.
“More than 200 of these people were from outfits like VHP, Bajrang Dal and the RSS in Modasa. Around 300 Muslims, including those associated with Islamic outfits, were also questioned,” the source said.
–Agencies