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Mastermind behind Haren Pandya`s murder in Yemen: CBI
A year after the cold-blooded murder of Gujarat BJP leader Haren Pandya, the CBI has brought several startling facts to light even as it has arrested 15 persons including sharp-shooter Asghar Ali while hunt is still on for the alleged prime conspirator believed to be in Yemen.
A year after the cold-blooded murder of Gujarat BJP leader Haren Pandya, the CBI has brought several startling facts to light even as it has arrested 15 persons including sharp-shooter Asghar Ali while hunt is still on for the alleged prime conspirator believed to be in Yemen.
Exactly a year ago, the ex-Home and revenue minister Pandya was gunned down in his own car just before he was about to go for his routine morning walk at the law garden in the city.
Many fingers were pointed towards it being a 'political murder' with allegations being made directly at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi by Pandya's father. The government was urged to hand over the probe to the CBI.
However, probe by the CBI unearthed a deep-rooted 'conspiracy' by `ISI trained youths' to strike at any prominent Hindu leader to avenge the death of minorities during the post-Godhra communal riots, CBI officials said.
The agency said the assailants had stalked several other VHP leaders and had decided to eliminate Pandya as he was unguarded most of the time and whose death would 'hurt' the majority community.
The CBI traced the alleged killer Ali and two other from Hyderabad and also arrested four 'ISI trained youths' from the city and invoked POTA against them in June while four others were still at large.
As part of its investigation the CBI has also issued red corner notices and intimated the Interpol for the whereabouts of city based Mufti Sufiyan Patangiyan, the alleged mastermind behind the murder, who is believed to have fled to Yemen, agency sources added.
The CBI has framed a chargesheet in the case and it is all set to go into trail after the orders are given on two petitions, one before Supreme Court and the other before the POTA review committee, filed to challenge application of the anti-terror law on all the 19 accused persons.
The CBI has also got a clearance from the POTA court to keep names of several witnesses secret.
The agency has wound up its investigations in the case, the agency sources said adding that with the arrest of Patangiyan, who allegedly hatched the conspiracy at the Jumma Masjid in Ahmedabad, more facts of subversive activities in the state and other parts of the country may come to light. Bureau Report
Exactly a year ago, the ex-Home and revenue minister Pandya was gunned down in his own car just before he was about to go for his routine morning walk at the law garden in the city.
Many fingers were pointed towards it being a 'political murder' with allegations being made directly at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi by Pandya's father. The government was urged to hand over the probe to the CBI.
However, probe by the CBI unearthed a deep-rooted 'conspiracy' by `ISI trained youths' to strike at any prominent Hindu leader to avenge the death of minorities during the post-Godhra communal riots, CBI officials said.
The agency said the assailants had stalked several other VHP leaders and had decided to eliminate Pandya as he was unguarded most of the time and whose death would 'hurt' the majority community.
The CBI traced the alleged killer Ali and two other from Hyderabad and also arrested four 'ISI trained youths' from the city and invoked POTA against them in June while four others were still at large.
As part of its investigation the CBI has also issued red corner notices and intimated the Interpol for the whereabouts of city based Mufti Sufiyan Patangiyan, the alleged mastermind behind the murder, who is believed to have fled to Yemen, agency sources added.
The CBI has framed a chargesheet in the case and it is all set to go into trail after the orders are given on two petitions, one before Supreme Court and the other before the POTA review committee, filed to challenge application of the anti-terror law on all the 19 accused persons.
The CBI has also got a clearance from the POTA court to keep names of several witnesses secret.
The agency has wound up its investigations in the case, the agency sources said adding that with the arrest of Patangiyan, who allegedly hatched the conspiracy at the Jumma Masjid in Ahmedabad, more facts of subversive activities in the state and other parts of the country may come to light. Bureau Report