Rajnath Singh praises Sartaj for disowning terrorist son

NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency will probe the recent bomb blast on a train in Madhya Pradesh and the related terrorist encounter in Lucknow a couple of days ago, home minister Rajnath Singh informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

While making the statement in the House, Singh praised Mohammed Sartaj, the father of slain terrorist, Saifullah, for disowning his son and refusing to accept his body for burial saying a traitor “can't be my son.” Singh said, "the government is proud of him (father) and I am sure Parliament too is.”

Members cutting across party lines thumped the desk in appreciation. Singh said that eight pistols, 630 cartridges, Rs 1.5 lakh, three mobile phones, four sim cards, two wireless sets and foreign currency were recovered from the encounter place in Lucknow where Saifullah, suspected to be linked to the train blast in Madhya Pradesh, was shot dead by the security forces of Uttar Pradesh.

He said six terror suspects were arrested by Madhya Pradesh and UP police in the subsequent search operations.

“The sequence of events presents an excellent example of coordination among state police and central agencies. Due to the prompt action taken by the police of both states, a possible threat to national security was successfully averted. Further investigations will be handed over to the NIA," Singh said.