Unbelievable, but true: there has been no major breakthrough and hence no conviction in over a dozen major bomb blasts and other terrorism-related incidents since 2005.
Investigating agencies have failed to achieve any breakthrough since 2005
NEW DELHI: With no breakthrough in sight, the month-old Jaipur serial bomb blasts is ready to be confined to the rich repository of unresolved cases. Unbelievable, but true: there has been no major breakthrough and hence no conviction in over a dozen major bomb blasts and other terrorism-related incidents since 2005.
The story of the Jaipur blast case is no different. It is the usual Centre-state blame game with everyone suddenly being reminded of the deficient intelligence network. The Gurjar quota issue cropped up at the “right time” to act as a diversion.
Was the Gurjar uprising timed or was it merely coincidental? This question is being hotly debated in the security and political circles.
The details of the cases, since the attack on Ram Janam Bhoomi on July 5, 2005, compiled by the home ministry present a rather dismal picture of the security and intelligence networks’ efficacy. The only achievements registered in official records are sundry arrests and eliminations of terrorist modules.
The long, cumbersome and unwinding legal process has also taken its toll on achieving convictions in such cases. Over a dozen cases scrutinised by DNA are either unresolved or struck in the complex judicial process.
In the Ram Janam Bhoomi case, the prosecution against the five accused is still at the evidence stage with only 18 witnesses examined in over three years. Intriguingly, four accused in this case are yet to be arrested.
The only claim to fame of the investigating agencies probing the terrorist attack on Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, that took place on December 28, 2005, is the arrest of six Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists. The status: the case is still under investigation.
Three bomb blasts rocked Delhi on October 10, 2005. Non-availability of personal details has been cited as the reason for failure to track these terrorists.
Similar is the fate of the Varanasi bomb blasts that took place on March 7, 2006. A charge-sheet was filed against one of the main accused Waliullah on July 11, 2006. But the other accused, including three Bangladeshi nationals are still absconding.
In the Malegoan blast case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the only clinching achievement cited by the home ministry records is the “important role” played by Pakistan. Other achievements: one eyewitness is in custody and another has turned approver.
The delaying tactics being adopted by the 13 accused in the Mumbai local train serial blasts of July 7, 2006 has meant the probe is moving at a snail’s pace. “The accused are using all delaying tactics like challenging the MCOCA and leveling allegations against the judges,” the state government has informed the home ministry.
The Mecca Masjid bomb blast case also seems to have reached a dead end. The progress made by the CBI since its occurrence on May 18, 2007, is dismal. The agency has stated that it was maintaining a close link with police in other states to solve the case.
The list goes on and on. The Aurangabad arms haul, Samjhauta Express blasts, attack on CRPF group centre in Rampur, bomb blast in Shingar cinema theatre, Ludhiana…the end result is the same.
On its part, the Centre has in a related paper has mentioned the assistance being provided by it for modernistion of state police. “Regular follow-up meetings are also being conducted to review the progress in these cases,” the paper states.
a_anand@dnaindia.net
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