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Journalism of Courage
In connection with the 2007 Samjhauta Express blasts,the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched a probe to recover the reservation form filled by alleged bomber Kamal Chauhan,traveling from Indore to Delhi in Indore Intercity Express on February 18,2007,and the retiring room register at the Old Delhi Railway Station which had entries of his stay in Delhi. Both the reservation form and the register at the retiring room are missing.
Investigators have sought the help of Indian Railways to trace the original booking form as they suspect either Chauhan or Sharma had filled the form and used false names to travel in the train and during their stay at the retiring room. Officials said that they were planning to get the form examined by a handwriting expert in order to match it with that of Chauhan. This would have been an important piece of evidence for the agency.
A team of NIA officials is camping in Indore,hoping to trace the travel details of Chauhan and three other accused. Apart from Chauhan,others who planted the bombs were Sharma,Amit Chauhan and Rajender Pehalwan. While Sharma and Chauhan are in judicial custody,the others are absconding.
Similarly,the register which contained the entries of those who stayed at the retiring room at Old Delhi Railway Station on February 18,2007,is not available. Chauhan had reportedly told the NIA that they reached Nizamuddin on February 18 from where they went to the Old Delhi Railway Station and checked into a dormitory. They made entries in the register and were allotted beds. The two suitcase bombs were locked inside the room after which the duo went out. The same evening,they waited for the announcement regarding Samjhauta Express and once the train arrived they reportedly planted the explosives inside the compartments.
Chauhan,who recently refused to get his statement recorded before a magistrate,reportedly told investigators that the other two bombs were planted by two of their associates. However,the NIA has been unable to find any CCTV footage regarding the bombers from the records of Old Delhi Railway Station,suggesting that the bombers had done a reconnaissance of the platform before executing the attacks. He also reportedly confessed that he,along with a dozen others,received arms and explosive trainings at Bagli in Dewas,Madhya Pradesh,and Karni Singh shooting range near
South Delhi.
