The Hindu : National : “Demand for verifying IM-LeT link an error”

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“Demand for verifying IM-LeT link an error”

Mumbai: The Mumbai police on Friday “backtracked” on their demand for verifying links between terror groups Indian Mujahideen (IM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) over the November 26 terror attacks here saying it was “an error on their part.”

“The demand was erroneously mentioned in the remand application,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria told reporters here on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the Mumbai Crime Branch informed the special MCOCA court here that it wanted to verify if the 20 alleged IM members had any links with the LeT.

In a remand application filed before the court, Crime Branch officer Ashok Duraphe said the terrorists who were killed in the 26/11 terror attacks “while talking to India TV news channel” said they are also “from Mujahideen” and that “they demanded to set free IM operatives arrested in connection with the Delhi, Ahmedabad and Surat blasts.”

Mr. Maria, however, denied any such verification demand stating that the point was “erroneously mentioned in the remand application. The same officer who filed the application, will submit a corrigendum in the court tomorrow [Saturday] stating that he is the investigating officer in the IM case but not in the 26/11 case.”

“The officer who filed the remand application is not the IO of the case and thus was not aware of the facts,” Mr. Maria said, adding that it may be deleted from the application. He also said an internal inquiry will be initiated against those officers who prepared the application. — PTI

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