Title - VHP leader shot at, Mulund train explosion accused held

Bhiwandi: The police on Saturday arrested 2003 Mulund train blast accused Saquib Nachan in connection with Friday night’s shooting at Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader and advocate Manoj Raicha (48).
    Nachan, who is currently out on bail in the blast case, was produced before a local court which remanded him in police custody till August 14.
    Nachan was also arrested in 2002 for the murder of VHP leader Lalit Jain in Bhiwandi. He was acquitted in the case in 2006 for want of evidence.
    In his complaint, Raicha said he was on his way home in Par Naka in his car on Friday night when a man coming from the opposite direction fired three rounds at him. While Raicha managed to dodge two bullets as he was seated in his car, which was moving at a high speed, one grazed him on his right arm.
    Raicha’s police bodyguard Sudin Achrekar tried to chase the accused but to no avail. In 2011, Nachan allegedly threatened to eliminate Raicha. The advocate, who is fighting against illegal slaughter houses in the Konkan region, informed the Thane police about Nachan’s threat and was provided with round-the-clock police cover.
    As the news of firing at Raicha spread, members of the VHP and the BJP gathered outside the Nijampura police station, demanding Nachan’s arrest. The agitators threatened to call a bandh if Nachan was not arrested by Monday. As the situation grew tense, senior Thane police officers, including joint commissioner B K Singh, rushed to Nijampura and promised the agitators that the accused will be brought to book soon. On the basis of Raicha’s complaint, the police booked Nachan for attempt to murder and under the Arms Act.
    “Our team is questioning Nachan and further action will be taken on basis of his interrogation,” said DCP (Thane) M K Bhosale.
WHO IS SAQUIB NACHAN
    Nachan was arrested under TADA in October 1992 for his links with Lal Singh, who was found in possession of arms and ammunition
    The designated TADA court in Ahmedabad sentenced Nachan to life. The Supreme Court later modified Nachan’s sentence of life imprisonment into 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment. On April 24, 2001, Nachan was released from Sabarmati Jail
    On June 28, 2001, an FIR was registered against Nachan for his alleged links with banned outfit SIMI
    On July 17, 2002, Nachan was arrested for murder of VHP leader Lalit Jain. He was eventually acquitted in case for want of evidence
    In 2003, Nachan was arrested for his alleged involvement in Mulund train bomb blast case. He was released on bail in 2011


VHP leader Manoj Raicha