Samjhauta Express blast: NIA arrests another suspect from MP

Dhan Singh, a prime suspect in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case, was today arrested by the National Investigation Agency from Madhya Pradesh, the second person to be apprehended in the last two days.

Singh, who was arrested from Chitrakoot along Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh border following intelligence input, is also suspected to be involved in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, sources said.

Singh, who is one of the alleged conspirators in the Samjhauta case, was known as 'Swamiji' in Chitrakoot, they said.

The NIA had on December 15 arrested Rajender Chaudhary from Ujjain in Madhya Pradeshfor his alleged involvement in carrying out the blast in the Pakistan-bound train.

Chaudhary has been sent to 12 days custody of NIA by a court in Panchkula, Haryana, which is hearing the matter.

It is the fifth arrest in the case. The NIA has already arrested Kamal Chauhan, Aseemanand, Lokesh Sharma and Chaudhary for their alleged involvement in the blast.

The bomb blast in the Samjhauta Express near Panipat, Haryana on February 18, 2007 and the consequent fire in the train coaches had resulted in the loss of 68 lives and injuries to 12 train passengers including women and children.

The initial investigation into the bomb blast was conducted by the Government Railway Police and Special Investigation Team of Haryana Police and subsequently NIA took over the case on July 29, 2010 following a directive by the Home Ministry.

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