The National Investigation Agency (NIA),which is probing the Malegaon blasts and other related attacks,is looking for a woman suspect named Renu,who is believed to be a college friend of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur a key accused in the case. According to officials,Renu,who is originally from Gurgaon,was with Pragya at the Lahar College in Bhind from 1993 to 1997,around the time when the latter rose to become the state secretary of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP),the BJPs students wing. NIA officials said Renu is suspected to have continued her association with Pragya even after college,and the two stayed together in Surat. A hunt has been launched for her in Gwalior,where she is reported to have lived for some time. Earlier this week,officials questioned Pragyas father,Chandrapal Singh Thakur,at his Surat residence in this connection. But Thakur reportedly told them that he was not aware of his daughters college friends. Speaking to The Indian Express,Thakur confirmed: The police questioned me about one Renu,who was said to be Pragyas friend hailing from Gurgaon. But I could not tell them much. I am not aware of Pragyas friends. He said the NIA officials told him that Renu was also associated with the ABVP during her college days. He reiterated that his daughter,who was arrested in October 2008 in connection with the Malegaon blasts,is innocent,unwell and needs proper medical treatment. NIA officials said they had visited Thakur in connection with a plea filed by Shiv Sena activists,on behalf of Pragya,to the National Human Rights Commission. Meanwhile,there is speculation that officials will visit the southern districts of Gujarat,including Valsad,following the recent arrest of Swami Aseemanand.
