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Purohit had 60 kg of RDX, says ATS

Rahi Gaikwad

Nashik: Lieutenant-Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, a serving Army officer and a key suspect in the Malegaon blast of September 29, had 60 kg of RDX in his possession while he was in the Army’s Deolali camp in 2006, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) special prosecutor Ajay Misar told the Nashik court here on Friday. He was seeking Purohit’s remand extension.

Calling Purohit a “mastermind,” Mr. Misar argued that portions of the RDX were used in Malegaon and the Samjhauta Express blast of 2007.

“It has been learnt that some portion of the RDX was given to a person named Bhagwan, to be used in the Samjhauta blast. Some of it was used for Malegaon blast. However, this aspect is yet to be investigated. It will come to light over the next three days,” he said. The laptop of Purohit has been traced and sent for forensic analysis.

The forensic report of October 3, 2008, states RDX was used in the Malegaon blast. “A huge quantity was used,” said Mr. Misar. The explosive was found in 18 spots after the blast. However, it is not confirmed whether it is military grade RDX. “The forensic report does not make this classification,” he said later.

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