Suspected IM operative held

In a pre-dawn operation on Tuesday, the Pune unit of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad detained Hussain Shabbir Nairuddin Gangajali, a suspected Indian Mujahideen IM operative, for his alleged role in the Bangalore blasts.

Alleged to be a close aide of Iqbal Bhatkal, brother of Riyas Batkal, the founder member of IM 8212; the suspected mastermind behind the blasts in Delhi, Bangalore, Ahemdabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Varanasi and Assam 8212; he was arrested from his hideout in Janwadi slums near Chattursrungi in Pune. Janwadi is a large slum area, close to Senapati Bapat Road, one of the prime areas in the city.

Many central and state agencies including those in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka and the Intelligence Bureau had been on his hunt. Hussain is alleged to have provided shelter to Iqbal Bhatkal. ATS officials said Hussain8217;s presence in the city was traced during investigations in the blast cases.

ATS officials said they had informed central and state agencies of Gujarat and Karnataka about Hussain8217;s detention. They suspect Hussain8217;s Pune hideout could have been used to plan these bomb blasts. A resident of Karwar in Karnataka, he had been staying with a close relative.