Author: Syed Khalique Ahmed
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: August 18, 2008
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/350026.html
Introduction: Ahmedabad: Ten accused remanded
to police custody; officer leading blasts probe had questioned Surat detainees
in 2001
Four of the ten alleged SIMI activists arrested
in connection with the July 26 Ahmedabad serial blasts - all were remanded
to police custody for 14 days by an Ahmedabad metropolitan court today (nine
were produced in court while Mufti Abu Bashir, the alleged mastermind who
was brought from UP to Ahmedabad late Saturday night, was taken to the magistrate's
residence late in the evening and the remand obtained) - also figured in a
case registered against SIMI activists in Surat in 2001.
In fact, three of the four were even arrested
in the Surat case and questioned by the same officer who is now one of the
lead officers handling the serial blasts probe. Kept in jails for two years,
they were subsequently released on bail.
After the ban on SIMI was imposed in September
2001, Sajid Mansuri, who was then the Gujarat zonal secretary of SIMI, organised
an educational programme under the aegis of the All India Minority Education
Front. Police raided the premises, arresting as many as 123 people. While
Mansuri managed to evade the police (he was arrested from Bharuch a few days
ago), Arif Kagdi, Shamsuddin Sheikh and Usman Agarbattiwala - now among the
nine arrested in connection with the blasts - were among those held by the
police.
Ashish Bhatia, who is principal investigator
in the Ahmedabad blasts case, was Joint Commissioner of Police in Surat at
that time and had interrogated the accused - he was not available for comments
today. A criminal offence under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act was registered against them, including Mansuri who was absconding. The
accused were kept in Vadodara and Nadiad Central Jails and released on bail
after two years.
That case is still under trial in Surat's
metropolitan magistrate's court. Advocate Khalid Sheikh, who is defence counsel
in the case, said that out of the 35 witnesses in the case, only eight have
been cross-examined so far. The next hearing is scheduled for August 28.
These are the nine who have been arrested
in the Ahmedabad blasts case:
oSajid Mansuri: A product of Tayyabi Madrasa
in Zampa Bazar of Surat, he used to work as a recovery agent with the Mumbai-based
Barkat Bank before the police crackdown on the Surat meet organised by him.
While on the run, he stayed in Vadodara. He was arrested from Bharuch after
the serial blasts in Ahmedabad. He is alleged to be the main link between
the mastermind of the serial blasts and the executors.
oArif Kagdi: A former Gujarat zonal secretary
of SIMI, Arif lived in Shahpur mohalla of Old Ahmedabad. He helped his father
eke out a living by selling clothes. For the last few months, he had been
teaching in a school in Juhapura. He was arrested in the Surat case.
oUsman Agarbattiwala: Was arrested in Surat
case and kept in Vadodara Central Jail. While in jail, he studied and took
the B.Com (First Year) examinations as a private candidate. He belongs to
an educated, business family from Bijnore district of western Uttar Pradesh
which settled in Vadodara four decades ago. His family lives in the Wadi area
of Moghalwada.
oImran Shaikh: Came in contact with SIMI after
the ban. His father is recovering from a bypass surgery. While Imran sold
clothes from a handcart, his mother made kites to bring home some money. According
to police, Imran's one-room apartment in Taiwada mohalla in Vadodara was used
for assembling some of the bombs used in Ahmedabad.
oZahid Shaikh: Has been living on Sandhi Avenue
near Vishala Circle on the Sarkhej Highway for a year with parents, wife,
four-month-old son. Arrested for alleged conspiracy in the serial blasts.
Runs a mobile shop at the Alishan Complex in Danilimda area. Has three sisters
and a brother who is mentally challenged. Zahid studied upto Class VIII in
an Islamic school.
oIqbal Sheikh: Very little is known about
him. He used to live in Al-Aqsa Apartments opposite Khushlachand School in
Bhoiwada in Vadodara. Ran a provision store on the ground floor of the building.
oShamsuddin Sheikh: A resident of Dariapur
in Ahmedabad, he lived with his family in a one-room house opposite the Lokhandwala
Hospital. After the ban on SIMI, he taught Arabic in a school in Bharuch for
sometime. In Ahmedabad, he used to sell sewing threads.
oYunus Mansuri: A product of Goblej School
in Kheda district, he lived in Bapunagar area and used to help out with the
family business in Kalupur.
oGayasuddin Ansari: A resident of Gomtipur
in Ahmedabad, he was an embroidery worker. He is said to have come in contact
with SIMI after the ban.
The accused were produced in the Ahmedabad
metropolitan magistrate's court amid tight security. The Crime Branch sought
14 days remand to investigate in detail how and where was the conspiracy hatched,
who were involved in it. Police also hope to find out who stole the cars which
were used to plant the bombs, how were the explosives procured and linkages
to other terror outfits. The police also will try to get details of terror
training camps organised in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, information
on agents who provided financial and logistic support to the outfit.
