New Delhi:
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.
NIA had on June 20, 2011 filed a chargesheet before the special court under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against five accused - Naba Kumar Sarkar alias Swami Aseemanand, Sunil Joshi (now dead), Lokesh Sharma, Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalasangra alias Ramji.
Dange and Kalasangra are reportedly absconding.
The investigating agency had in August this year also filed a supplementary chargesheet in the case against disgruntled RSS worker Kamal Chauhan and his associate Amit in a special court at Panchkula charging them with murder,
conspiracy and other offences.
Sources said the NIA will try to get the custody of Dhan Singh from a designated court to interrogate him over his alleged involvement in Samjhauta Express and Malegaon blasts.
Six people were killed in blasts on September 29, 2008 in Malegaon (Maharashtra). The Malegaon blast case is also being probed by the NIA.