By TCN News,
New Delhi: Though late Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram seems to have admitted his praise of Maharashtra ATS on arrest of Abdul Samad Bhatkal as prime suspect of Pune bakery blast was an act done in haste. The Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for May 2010 that Chidambaram released today talks about Bhatkal but in a cautious tone.
Chidambaram’s monthly report card talks about all major developments related to his Home Ministry that happened in the month of May. The developments/incidents have been mentioned under various sub-headings like Internal Security, Visits to States, Investigations, Naxalism etc.
[Photo by mynews]
Under the sub-heading of Investigations, the report card says: “On May 25, 2010, ATS, Maharashtra arrested one of the prime suspects in the Pune blast case (of February 13, 2010). I wish to impress upon everyone that the arrested person, at this stage, is only a suspect and hence this information should be treated with circumspection.”
One should read again the last sentence: I wish to …
And now match it with Chidambaram’s May 25 statement, after Abdul Samad Bhatkal was picked from Mangalore’s Bajpe airport.
Pune bomb blast suspect Abdul Samad Bhatkal being taken to a court in Mumbai on Tuesday. Samad was arrested on Monday at Mangalore airport. [Photo: PTI]
“The ATS Maharashtra, with the assistance of the Pune police, were able to identify the prime suspect behind the bomb blast. The Central Agencies were able to trace the suspect. He was apprehended yesterday (24.5.2010). He has been identified as Abdul Samad S/o Mohammed Zarar Siddibapa. I compliment ATS Maharashtra, the Pune police and the Central Agencies for apprehending the prime suspect within 100 days of the incident.”
One can mark the difference of tone and text between the two statements.
Chidambaram came under attack by a section of media for showing hurriedness in praising Maharashtra ATS on Bhatkal’s arrest as the ATS took his remand in an arms case rather than in Pune blast case within 24 hours of his arrest. Further development in which Bhatkal’s family released a family wedding video wherein Bhatkal was seen serving food to guests a week before the Pune blast also brought some pressure on Chidambaram to walk cautiously now on the issue.