Suspect tells all on right-wing attacks

Interrogation of alleged Samjhauta bomber Rajendra Pehelwan alias Samandar has revealed that right-wing extremists were involved in the Jama Masjid blasts of April 2006, and the Mehruali blast of September 2008, sources said. Rajesh Ahuja reports.

Interrogation of alleged Samjhauta bomber Rajendra Pehelwan alias Samandar has revealed that right-wing extremists were involved in the Jama Masjid blasts of April 2006, and the Mehruali blast of September 2008, sources said.

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While five persons lost their lives in the Jama Masjid blasts, the explosion at Mehrauli left three dead.

"Based on the interrogation of Rajendra Pehelwan alias Samandar, the alleged Samjhauta Express train bomber, we have received indications that the Jama Masjid blasts and the Mehruali blasts were handiwork of right wing extremists. Samandar has also disclosed that his group was involved in few incidents of throwing grenades at mosques in J&K. The National Investigation Agency is verifying his claims," said sources.

Samanadar was part of a group of right wing extremists formed by former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak Sunil Joshi.

"Samanadar's interrogation has established that the Sunil Joshi-led group was involved in blasts in Malegaon, Samjahuta Express, Mecca Masjid and Dargah Ajmer Sharif. But, in December 2007, Joshi was murdered by his own men. It happened because Joshi wanted to surrender and own up to all the blasts carried out by his group," a source said. "After Joshi's murder, his group bombed Malegaon and Modasa in September 2008."

Investigators said Samandar was also involved in the killing of a key witness in the murder of Congress leader Pyar Singh Ninama. Ninama was allegedly murdered by Joshi and his group in August 2003.