SIMI leader held in connection with Bangalore blasts

A SIMI leader having links with Lashkar-e-Toiba militant outfit was arrested on Saturday in connection with last year’s serial blasts in Bangalore,taking the number of those held in the case to 10.

Sarfaraz Navoz,a native of Kerala,was arrested from Kalasipalya,police said,exactly a month after nine persons were nabbed in connection with the blasts which rocked the city on July 25 and left one dead and several injured.

Sarfaraz,who was involved in funding and planning the blasts,had links with the Lashkar-e-Toiba and was a high ranking leader of the SIMI,sources said.

Sarfaraz had conducted a survey of the city before the blasts were executed. He had been residing in Kerala and also in the Gulf,the sources said.