Ujjain: Lokayukta cop planted explosives to implicate colleagues

A 35-year-old Lokayukta constable and his aide were arrested on Tuesday for planting the explosives and detonators at a private hostel in Ujjain’s Nanakheda area to implicate some colleagues in the case.

A 35-year-old Lokayukta constable and his aide were arrested on Tuesday for planting the explosives and detonators at a private hostel in Ujjain’s Nanakheda area to implicate some colleagues in the case.

On March 19 police had recovered over 2.7 kg explosives, detonators, wires and a cell phone from a hostel in Ujjain. (HT file)

On March 19 police recovered over 2.7 kg nitrate-based explosives, 25 detonators, wires and a cell phone from room number 212 of Atishay Sheel Jain hostel in Nanakhera area. Madhya Pradesh anti-terror squad had sprung into action after the haul and were investigating possible terror plot ahead of the month-long Simhastha fair, slated to start in the holy town from April 22.

Constable Ashish Chandel, posted at Indore’s Lokayukta special police establishment, hatched the plan and planted the explosives at the hostel with the help of his private security guard Sushil Mishra on March 18, MP anti-terror squad (ATS) chief Sanjiv Shami said told reporters.

The ATS chief did not reveal the name of the policemen whom the duo wanted to implicate in the case.

Mishra, who was earlier engaged in stone quarrying activities in Ashok Nagar district—380 km from Ujjain, helped Chandel obtain the explosives and also dumped it at the hostel, Shami said, adding that Chandel was shifted to Lokayukta’s Indore wing from Ujjain just a few months ago. He was inducted in the 7th SAF Battalion in Bhopal a few years ago.

“Both Chandel and Mishra have been arrested. However, no evidence has been found against the third suspect in the case due to which he has not been arrested,” Shami added.

On Monday, the ATS chief had told reporters in Bhopal that cops had gathered vital leads about three suspects and were close to cracking the case.

The revelation and the arrests lifted the lid off the security preparation of Ujjain police and administration ahead of the Simhastha fair. Over five crore people are expected to visit the holy town for royal bathes during the religious congregation.

The government has spent crores on security -- from specially-trained commandos to helicopters and drone cameras.

Cell phone helps cop track accused

Tracking call records of a cell phone left behind by Sazish Khan--the fictitious name under which Mishra checked into the hostel—along with 2.7 kg nitrate-based Class II explosives, 25 detonators and wires, helped police nab Chandel and Mishra.

According to police sources, the accused deliberately left behind the cell phone from which they had called the people they wanted to implicate in the case. The SIM card used to make the call was secured in the name Sazish Khan by providing a fake Aadhaar card. The same identity card was used by the accused to check into the hostel.

During analysis of call records and subsequent questioning of the people to whom calls were made ultimately helped the police bust the plot.

CRIME FILE

On March 19, police recovered over 2.7 kg nitrate-based explosives, 25 detonators, wires and a cell phone from room number 212 of Atishay Sheel Jain hostel in Nanakhera area of Ujjain

Madhya Pradesh anti-terror squad (ATS) sprung into action after the haul and were investigating possible terror plot ahead of the month-long Simhastha fair

Constable Ashish Chandel, posted at Indore’s Lokayukta special police establishment, hatched the plan and planted the explosives at the hostel with the help of his private security guard, Sushil Mishra, on March 18, Madhya Pradesh ATS chief Sanjiv Shami has said

The ATS chief, however, did not reveal the name of the policemen whom the duo wanted to implicate in the case

Mishra, who was earlier engaged in stone quarrying activities in Ashok Nagar district, 380 km from Ujjain, helped Chandel obtain the explosives

Chandel was shifted to Lokayukta’s Indore wing from Ujjain just a few months ago.