New Delhi, Nov 17: A police personnel today told a Delhi court hearing the Red Fort attack case that days after the incident, he had defused live hand grenades recovered from bushes in the monument compound at the instance of the Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist facing trial in the matter. Sub-Inspector Virender Singh told special judge O P Saini that on December 26, 2000 - when posted at the bomb disposal squad at northern range - Inspector Hawa Singh of Kotwali Police Station asked him to defuse four live hand grenades and submit a report about it.

Deposing before the court, Virender identified the hand grenades he defused and the report he prepared when they were shown to him by the prosecution.

According to the prosecution, AK-47 rifles, magazines and hand grenades - which were concealed behind the bushes at Red Fort - were recovered at the instance of main accused Mohammed Arif alias Ashfaq, who is a Pakistani and an LeT terrorist.

Meanwhile, investigation officer Surinder sand objected to the removal of handcuffs and fetters on Ashfaq saying that the terrorist would escape if it were taken off.

Two militants of let sneaked into the 17th century historic monument at around 2100 hours on December 22, 2000 and opened indiscriminate fire on the guards of the 7th battalion of Rajputana Rifles stationed there leading to the death of three persons.
Bureau Report