New Delhi: As the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested a Lieutenant Colonel in connection with the Malegaon blasts, the Centre on Wednesday said it was a matter of "grave concern" that an Army officer was found to be involved in terror acts.
"It is a matter of grave concern that such a person (Lt Colonel) is found to be involved there. The investigating agencies arrest any person only after gathering sufficient evidence," Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said here.
Jaiswal said a "big conspiracy" was going on to destabilise the country by destroying countrys communal harmony but thankfully the investigating agencies have busted the module and arrested the persons involved in it.
Asked whether the Centre was contemplating to impose a ban on Bajrang Dal, the Minister said investigations into various incidents were yet to be completed.
"Let the investigations complete, then we will see...," he said.
The ATS on Wednesday arrested Lieutenant Colonel Srikant Purohit in connection with the September 29 Malegaon blasts. He ill be produced before a Nashik court later in the day.
Purohit was interrogated two days back by the ATS in connection with the blasts in the powerloom town.
The army officer, who came under the scanner for his alleged role in the blasts, was stationed at the Army Education Corps Training College and Centre at Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh and was picked up by the ATS for questioning last week.
Jaiswal welcomed the Governments decision to declare the Ganga as a national river and also set up a high-powered Ganga River Basin Authority to protect the ancient river from pollution and degradation.
"It was a historic decision which was taken considering peoples sentiments and emotions involved with the sacred river," he said.
The Minister said the decision came two months after he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh leading a delegation of prominent persons, including Baba Ramdev, urging him to save the Ganga from being further polluted.
"The authority will now take appropriate actions to save the Ganga from pollution and implement various projects for the benefits of a large number of people whose livelihoods depended on the river," he said.
