NEW DELHI, Jan 20: Indian Defence Minister A. K. Antony said on Tuesday that India would not hand over Samjhauta blast case accused Lt-Col Shrikant Purohit to Pakistan.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Antony said the issue of Purohit was an internal matter of India and Pakistan should not be concerned about it.

“The case (Malegaon blast) is under examination by the Anti-Terror Squad of the Maharashtra police. It is our internal matter. We are investigating it.

“How can Pakistan be concerned with that?” the minister asked when asked about reports from Pakistan that it might demand Purohit’s extradition.

“Our agencies are inquiring about that. Let us wait for the final results. It (investigation) is our responsibility and we are doing it,” Mr Antony said.

Referring to reports that the Indian army was not prepared for a war in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, he said: “Our armed forces are in a state of preparedness. They are prepared for meeting any challenge, any eventuality and any threat from any quarter.”

He said there were reports about Pakistan military buildup across the border, but such reports should not be cause of ‘panic’.

“At the moment, the government (of India) is concentrating on diplomatic efforts. There is no question of our armed forces lowering their guard,” he said.

When asked about a group of militants agreeing to put down arms if the Kashmir issue was resolved, the minister said: “This (terrorism) has nothing to do with Kashmir, which is an integral part of India. We will not entertain any kind of interference from any source and any quarter regarding Kashmir.”

Meanwhile, nearly four months after the blast at Malegaon, police have filed a chargesheet naming army officer Lt Col S. Purohit as the main conspirator who provided the explosives, and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur as the prime accused who arranged for the men who planted the explosives.

The 4,000-page chargesheet, filed by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) before a special court here on Tuesday, said that Purohit had floated right-wing group Abhinav Bharat in 2007 with an intention to “propagate a separate Hindu Rashtra with its own Constitution”.—APP