Probe into alleged conspiracy behind six train accidents

A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday questioned Nepalese businessman, Shamshul Hoda, alleged to be a prime suspect in recruiting Indians to plant explosives at railway tracks at the behest of Pakistan’s ISI.

A two-member NIA team visited Nepal and quizzed Hoda, who was arrested at the Kathmandu international airport on his return from Dubai on February 2 in connection with a double murder.

A source said that while Hoda admitted that he was asked by a Pakistani man identified as Shafi Sheikh to plant explosives on railway tracks in Ghorasahan and Nakardehi, both in Bihar, he did not admit to planting explosives at Pukhrayan, near Kanpur, and at Kuneru in Andhra Pradesh.

Over 140 people died when the Indore-Patna Express derailed at Pukhrayan on November 20 last year and 41 persons were killed when the Jagadalpur-Bhuvanesewar Hirakhund Express derailed at Kuneru in Andhra Pradesh on January 21.

While an IED, packed in a pressure cooker, which was planted at Ghorasahan on October 1 was defused, a low intensity explosion took place at Nakardehi without inflicting any damage.

‘No role in derailments’

“Hoda admits to knowing of a plan to plant IEDs at Ghorasahan and Nakardehi, both close to Nepal border, but feigned ignorance over Kanpur and Kuneru accidents. He said that Shafi Sheikh, whom he met in Dubai had only asked him to conduct a spectacular incident in India and send him newspaper clippings as a proof,” said a source.

The NIA is yet to complete its investigations into three rail accidents — Ghorasan, Kanpur and Kuneru incidents.

As reported earlier, Nepal police have been sceptical of claims by Indian agencies on Hoda’s links to the train derailments at Kanpur and Andhra Pradesh.

The probe was handed over to the NIA after Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu shot off a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh alleging sabotage in at least six train accidents.

Nepal police had told The Hindu that they were not sure of Indian agencies’ claims that Hoda was working on ISI’s behalf but they confirmed that the accused regularly met a Pakistani person Shafi Sheikh in Dubai.

He told the Nepal police that he went to Karachi seven-months back were he met three other people.

“Hoda has admitted his role in Ghorasan and Nakardehi incidents. When the explosion in Nakardehi did not cause any damage, he ordered the killing of two Nepalese men hired to do the job. Nepal police arrested three men- Braj Kishore Giri, Mojahir Ansari and Shambhu alias Laddu after an encounter and on the basis of their disclosure three others- Moti Paswan, Uma Shanker Patel and Mukesh Yadav were arrested by Bihar police. It was Paswan who told Bihar police that they had planted the bomb at Ghorasan at ISI’s instance, he also went on to add that ISI was behind the Kanpur train accidents. We are still verifying his claims,” said the source.

Hoda has been arrested for his role in the double murder case.

Paswan, the main accused arrested by Bihar Police had said that he and two others had travelled to Kanpur to place the IED.

U.P DGP Javeed Ahmed had earlier told The Hindu that the claims of the accused could not be corroborated and the preliminary investigations conducted by U.P police did not find any trace of explosive at the tracks.

Last week, NIA arrested another person identified as Ranjay Shah for allegedly assembling the bomb at Ghorasan.