Ajmer blast probe to be handed over to National Investigation Agency

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will now probe the Ajmer blast case, an official said in Jaipur today.

"Ajmer Dargah blast case will be handed over to NIA after the chief minister's approval. The Centre had forwarded us a proposal for the same some 25 days ago," additional chief secretary (Home) PK Deb said.

"We after discussion with the state Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and law department forwarded the file to the chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his approval is expected soon," he said.

"The Centre's contention was that since the same radical outfits were involved in the blasts in Ajmer Dargah, Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid and Malegaon, the case should be investigated by the NIA," the officer added.

Three pilgrims were killed and 15 others were injured in the terror attack when a crude bomb went off at the sufi shrine of Khawaja Moinuddhin Chishti in Ajmer in 2007 where thousands of devout had gathered to break their day-long Ramzan fast.