The interrogation of Shahanas P.A., a close associate of suspected Indian Mujahedeen operative Thadiyantavide Nazir, has brought out more details about the plan to influence the witnesses in the 2008 Bengaluru blast case.
Official sources said Nazir through his letters, had advised Shanas and Thaslim to influence the witnesses to make them turn hostile while being examined by the court.
Loopholes
Most of the witnesses in the case comprised people residing near the hideouts of the accused, and employees of the shops from where the accused had carried out purchases.
“Many of them were included as witnesses much after Nazir and other accused in the case were being brought to these places for evidence collection. Nazir wanted to take advantage of this loophole,’’ they said.
Further, offers were also made to provide legal support for these witnesses to present their cases in the court.
Kalamassery incident
Apart from the Benglauru blast case, attempts were also made to influence the witnesses in the Kalamassery bus burning case, in which Nazir is a key accused.
The incident took place in 2005 when alleged PDP workers torched a Tamil Nadu State-owned bus protesting against the continued imprisonment of PDP leader Abdul Nasir Maudany.
Meanwhile, Shahanas is likely to be taken to Kannur to collect evidence.
Efforts to make witnesses in Bengalauru blast case turn hostile while being examined by the court
