DIG shifts gears on Himayat role

After stating that prime accused in German Bakery blast case Baig was not present in city at time of blast, DIG Kadam retracts statement

After stating that prime accused in German Bakery blast case Baig was not present in city at time of blast, DIG Kadam retracts statement
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Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravindra Kadam of the state Anti-Terrorism Squad retracted his statement made in Udgir in front of TV channel crew last afternoon in which he had claimed that prime suspect Mirza Himayat Baig was not present in the city when the German Bakery blast happened on February 13.
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u00a0Himayat Baig

Kadam's statement was contradictory to Additonal Director General of Police and ATS chief Rakesh Maria's statement that Baig had come to the city along with Indian Mujahideen terrorist Yasin Bhatkal on February 13.

Maria had said in a press conference on September 8 that Yasin had planted the bomb in German Bakery while Baig was waiting outside.

Kadam claimed yesterday that Baig was only involved in assembling the explosives with Mohsin Choudhary and Yasin Bhatkal at the Global Internet Cafe in Udgir, but he did not come to the city on the day of the blast. Kadam said that Moshin and Yasin had carried the bomb to the city.

Kadam later clarified that Baig was in the city on the day of blast. "It was a misunderstanding on my part. So I am clarifying that Baig was actually in the city on the day of the blast," Kadam said.

"The ATS has questioned about 40 persons in connection with the bakery blast case. Saber Patel, Khurshid Alam and Abdul Indori from Udgir were found to be be having close relation with Baig and hence the trio have been brought to the city for questioning," Kadam added.

Past Instance

A similar controversy was sparked when Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had congratulated the state ATS on the arrest of Abdul Samad, then said to be the prime suspect in German Bakery case, Samad was later released, reportedly without being questioned about the blast.