Breakthrough in Samjhauta train blast probe: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI: Central probe agencies have achieved a breakthrough in the case of Samjhauta Express train blast, suspected to be carried out by right-wing terror groups, but the same could not be shared as of now, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said here today.

There is some progress in the case and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the blast, has achieved a breakthrough, he said replying to questions on the status of the probe.

Chidambaram, however, declined to elaborate further, saying it "can't be disclosed to you".

As many as 68 people were killed when RDX-laden explosives were triggered in the Samjhauta train, the oldest rail link between India and Pakistan, in Haryana on the night of February 17, 2008.

The NIA had taken the custody of Abhinav Bharat member Swami Assemanand in this connection from a Punchkula court and were finding links as to who had supplied the RDX.

Asked for comment to the demand made by Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh that all terror-related cases should be probed by the NIA, the Home Minister said the Central probe agency was already investigating a number of terror cases.

"Not all cases where the UAPA (Unlawful Activities [Prevention] Act) provisions were invoked can be handled by NIA. NIA has the constraint of manpower, time. But all major cases of terror are being investigated by NIA and in future too all major terror cases will be handled by NIA," he said.