October 31, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 1, 1429

NEW DELHI, Oct 30: Federal police are investigating a serving lieutenant colonel of the Indian army for his alleged role in last month’s mystery blast near a mosque in Malegaon, Press Trust of India said on Thursday.

It said the army has allowed the police to question him. In a press release the army announced on Thursday it was giving “full cooperation” to the police and facilitating his questioning.

The army decision, PTI said, comes on a request from the Anti-Terrorism Squad of the Maharashtra police which has already arrested Ramesh Upadhaya, a retired army major from Pune in connection with theblast.

The news agency quoted the Deputy Army Chief Lt Gen S P S Dhillon as telling reporters that the army headquarters had not received any official communication on the issue.

“While no formal application has been received from the police authorities, the Army HQ has decided to extend full cooperation and facilitate interaction of the officer with the investigating officials of the police,” the army release said.

Accordingly, the officer has been moved to Mumbai to facilitate interaction at a mutually convenient place, it said. The officer was posted at the Army Education Corps School in Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP-ruled state from where rightwing activists have been arrested for alleged collusion in the bomb plot.

The army said further action would be taken if needed. “The Army headquarters will continue to provide all assistance to the investigating agency, as and when required by them,” it said.

PTI said that in the course of probe by police in the Malegaon blasts some inputs of possible linkages of a serving army officer with suspects had come to light. Accordingly the police sought to interact with the officer concerned and seek clarifications from him to proceed with further investigations.