One held for Kozhikode blasts

Kochi city police commissioner Manoj Abraham told the media the Kozhikode blasts were held as a warning to the state government,which had opposed bail applications of nearly 140 Muslims accused in the Marad violence,which had killed eight Hindus in 2003.

The commissioner said Haleem had been associated with the conspiracy behind the Bangalore blasts last year. He had learned bomb-making from Sathar Bhai,a close aide of Indian Mujahideen leader Riyas Bhatkal.

A former activist of the Peoples Democratic Party,Haleem was involved in the burning of a Tamil Nadu bus in 2005,demanding bail for Abdul Nazer Madhani,then jailed for Coimbatore blasts. Besides,he had also been in the gang that killed two Hindu youths on charges of marrying Muslim women.