NIA to identify Samjhauta bombers in chargesheet

For the first time, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will identify all four alleged Samjhauta Express bombers — Kamal Chauhan, Lokesh Sharma, Amit alias Ashwini Chauhan and Rajendra Pehelwan alias Samandar — in its supplementary chargesheet which will be filed soon.

For the first time, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will identify all four alleged Samjhauta Express bombers — Kamal Chauhan, Lokesh Sharma, Amit alias Ashwini Chauhan and Rajendra Pehelwan alias Samandar — in its supplementary chargesheet which will be filed soon.

HT Image

Of these four right-wing extremists, Kamal and Lokesh have already been arrested while Amit and Samandar are on the run. All the four belong to Madhya Pradesh and were associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at one point in time.

On February 18, 2007, two IEDs exploded in Samjhauta Express near Panipat, killing 68 people, mostly Pakistanis. Later, two unexploded bobs were also recovered from the train.

“The Samjhauta bombing team allegedly comprised Kamal, Lokesh, Amit and Samandar. They were divided into two teams of two members each. Each member had to plant one IED. The NIA will identify the four accused as alleged bomb planters,” said an investigator.