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Political Notes |
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Lashkar militants confirm Pak hand in Delhi blasts
The interrogation of Lashkar-e-Taiba militants has confirmed reports of Pakistani involvement in last month’s serial blasts in Delhi on October 29. Police sources said on Nov. 25 that one of those held Mohd. Hussain was trained to handle firearms and explosives in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Hussain and another militant had been detained from the valley and brought to Delhi. The two others in police custody have been identified as Mohd. Arif and Ghulam Ahmed. A source said that these two men had visited Pakistan several times.
Senior officers, however, have refrained from making any comment on Hussain and Arif. As for Ghulam Ahmed, who was formally arrested last week, the cops said that they played the lead role in arranging funds for the blasts.
In a related development, the admissions made by Tariq Ahmed Dar before a city court on Friday also firmly pointed the finger of suspicion towards Pakistan’s involvement in the October 29 blasts.
Dar, arrested by the Delhi Police from Srinagar, is the front man of militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba , suspected to have been responsible for the blasts in the capital which claimed the lives of 63 festival shoppers.
“I was instructed by the bosses of LeT from Pakistan to give a statement denying their role in the Delhi blasts that took place on October 29”, said Dar before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Madhu Jain. The court has extended the police custody of Dar till December 8. Dar worked at a pharma MNC and was arrested earlier in a hawala matter.
Abu Salem “keen” on turning approver
Infamous mafia don Abu Salem, who is being interrogated by various agencies is reported to be “keen” on turning approver. He is suspected to be involved in the Mumbai serial bomb blasts of 1993 and several other cases.
Reports say that during the interrogation, Abu Salem acknowledged his links to a prominent former Indian cricketer. This is expected to throw light on the nexus between some people in the cricketing fraternity and the underworld.
In a significant development, Abu Salem is reported to have confessed before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate about his involvement in the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate sent a sealed envelope to the designated TADA court relating to Abu Salem.
Judges appointments : Government cannot stop selection process
The Supreme Court has made it clear to the Government that it would not like holding back the appointment of judges in the Madras High Court despite recommendations made by the apex court collegium even as allegations were made by Counsel for bar associations in Chennai that the appointments were being withheld as some political parties in power wanted their nominees appointed.
Attorney General Milon Banerjee said the appointment of seven judges had been cleared and regarding 11 others, “more inquiry is needed.” A two-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Justice C.K. Thakker said when the collegium had cleared the names of all 18 judges for the Madras High Court, why should a few of them be held back.
Giving further time till December 9 to the Government to clear the appointments, the Bench said, “Notification should come together for all judges, otherwise it would be a fait accompli for those whose names are withheld.”
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