Bihar cops didn’t quiz Yasin Bhatkal under pressure, alleges BJP

PATNA/GAYA: Vote-bank politics appeared to have determined the political reactions to the Bihar police's mysterious refusal to interrogate Yasin Bhatkal, the terror synonym arrested on Thursday, with the ruling JD (U) claiming there was no case pending against him and the BJP accusing chief minister Nitish Kumar of going soft on terrorists. "The Bihar police, which deserved compliments for the prize catch, was prevented from interrogating him," former deputy CM and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said.

Modi pointed out Kumar had earlier opposed the arrest of terror suspects by central agencies from different parts of Bihar. "Hamdardi ka pradarshan kiya hai," Modi alleged and recalled the JD (U) had described Ishrat Jahan as a daughter of Bihar and its leaders might go to the extent of giving a Bihari touch to Bhatkal as well. For, Bhatkal's father-in-law Mohammad Irshad Khan, who belongs to Samastipur, was arrested by Delhi police two years back.

"The CM takes credit for even small achievements of the police, but when this big catch was made by the police, Bihar government did not take credit for it. It appears the police were also prevented from taking credit," he alleged.

JD (U) MP Shivanand Tiwari, however, denied Modi's charge and claimed the state police neither sought Bhatkal's remand nor interrogated him since no case was pending in Bihar against him. Party spokesperson Devesh Chandra Thakur told TOI from Mumbai, "The Bihar police strictly went by the rule book and did not 'formally interrogate' Bhatkal as no case is pending against him in any police station of the state."

Asked about the serial blasts at the Mahabodhi Temple in Gaya in which IM hand was also being suspected, Thakur said the blast case was being probed by the NIA. "Terrorism is a national issue and those indulging in 'politicking' on the issue are doing a great disservice to the nation," said Thakur.

While state police spokesman and ADG (HQ) Ravindra Kumar told TOI he had 'nothing to say' on the issue, the RJD also sought to steer clear of the controversy. "I was out of the state," RJD state chief Ram Chandra Purve said and feigned ignorance about Bhatkal's arrest.