Indian army official arrested over bomb blasts

New Delhi: Indian police arrested an army officer Wednesday in relation to a bomb blast in two Indian towns that killed five people and were blamed on a Hindu militant group, a government lawyer said.

The anti-terrorism squad in Mumbai questioned lieutenant-colonel Srikant Purohit for days before arresting him.

“He was arrested this morning and is being produced in court," said Ajay Misar, a government lawyer acting in the case.

The officer is accused of helping Hindu militants with bomb-making and other logistics in the attack in the Muslim-dominated towns of Malegaon and Modasa in September.

Another retired soldier was also questioned in the case, which has embarrassed the army.

Three other people, all Hindus, had already been arrested in connection with the Sept. 29 attacks.