Hyderabad blasts: Police conduct more raids

Though the information did not lead to the recovery of RDX, several people were taken into custody for questioning, a senior Hyderabad police officer said. “Search is still on to find RDX believed to have been sent to Hyderabad,” the official said.

Sheikh Sameer, alias Nayeem, arrested in connection with the May 18 blast, was the first one to mention during a narco analysis test that nearly 10 kg of RDX had been delivered in Hyderabad ahead of the Mecca Masjid blast.

Over the past couple of days the police have, on the basis of the interrogation of Abdul Sattar, also arrested 10 more people. Sattar is an associate of Hyderabad’s most wanted terrorist Mohammed Abdul Shahed. Police have recovered jihadi literature and propaganda materials from the possession of some of those arrested.

“There is a broader perspective to the investigation. Apart from solving the cases of May 18 and August 25, the aim is identify the entire network,” a senior police officer said.

Minority rights groups like the Civil Liberties Commission of Andhra Pradesh have voiced anger over the way the police have detained people.

The Hyderabad city police are also checking out the antecedents of Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals known to be living in the city. Rizwan Gadi, a 20-year-old Bangladeshi national, who has overstayed here is also under the police’s scanner.