Samjhauta Express blast: NIA arrests key suspect

NEW DELHI: In a major breakthrough in the 2007 Samjhauta Express blast case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) today arrested Rajesh Chaudhary, suspected to have planted bombs in the Pakistan-bound train, from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh.

Chaudhary, who is also known as Samundar, carried a reward of Rs five lakh.

He was arrested and produced before a court in Ujjain which gave his transit remand to the agency, official sources said adding that he will be produced before a Panchkula court.

The breakthrough came after intense investigation being carried out in the case by the NIA which was handed over the probe in 2010, they said.

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

The bomb blasts 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.