Author: Sharat Pradhan
in Lucknow
Publication: Rediff
on Net
Date: August 19, 2000
A notorious Nepal-based
agent of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence is suspected to have
been the brain behind the three blasts in Uttar Pradesh on Independence
Day.
Top police officials,
investigating the blasts, including one on the Sabarmati Express that killed
nine people, claimed they have conclusive evidence about the direct involvement
of the Nepal-based agent. The agent's close relative was a member
of the Nepalese parliament until he was gunned down two years ago.
Two men arrested in Gorakhpur
on Friday in connection with the blasts confessed that the Nepal-based
agent was the ISI front-man. Both were experts in making timed explosive
devices.
The police also suspect
the involvement of local cracker manufacturers in providing supplies to
extremists. "These traders can be used as a safe cover for delivering
explosive consignments," a senior official said.
The Lucknow police have
launched a massive search operation in the premises of cracker dealers.
Though nothing incriminating was found so far, Special Task Force Senior
Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar told rediff.com, "You cannot rule out
anything. The cracker shops should checked as a matter of routine
and not only when something drastic happens."
The police have established
a similarity between the blasts in Kanpur and Lucknow. Both were
timed-devices. The blast on the Sabarmati Express near Faizabad is
still being investigated and police are awaiting the findings of forensic
experts.
