Rahman wants possible RAW mole in NTJ brought back if hiding in India

By Rathindra Kuruwita

If Pulastini Mahendran alias Sarah Jasmine, the wife of Atchchi Muhammadu Muhammadu Hastun, who blew himself up at St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, was alive and hiding in India, the government should bring her back, SJB MP Mujibur Rahman, on Monday night, told the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) investigating the Easter Sunday attacks.

The government must request the Indian government to look for her and send her back, Rahman said.

“There were media reports suggesting Sarah had gone to India and that a police officer was arrested for helping her escape. The government must bring her back and this will help us find out who was behind the Easter Sunday bombings.”

The MP said there is a hitherto unknown force behind the National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) leader Zahran Hashim and his associates who carried out the Easter Sunday attacks.

“Former DIG of the Terrorism Investigations Division (TID) had told the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the attacks that the TID had obtained an open warrant for Zahran’s arrest. But finally what happened? TID Head De Silva was arrested. That is why I say there was an invisible force behind Zahran.”

Chairman of the Commission asked Rahman whether Muslim ministers and MPs had been aware of Zahran, and if so whether such matters had been discussed at the National Security Council (NSC). Rahman answered in the negative.

Rahman was also asked if he knew a person named Noordin Mohammed who was arrested while hiding some knives in a mosque in Slave Island following the bombings. The witness said Mohammed was a Colombo Municipal Councillor representing the United National Party.

“I have known him for about 10 years, but knew this incident after his arrest.”