Bangalore stadium blasts accused to be brought to city next week

Investigation by the police into the twin blasts at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 17, 2010, reveals that one more Indian Mujahideen (IM) terror suspect, Gaugar Aziz Khomani, 31, who was arrested by Delhi police in November, 2011, might have been involved in the crime.

The police are seeking his custody through a body warrant, along with three other main accused in the case. They requested a Delhi court for custody of the four accused for investigation into the twin blasts.

Six IM suspects were arrested by the Delhi Police in November 2011, while one person, identified as Farooq, was arrested a week later.

Investigation revealed that three of them—along with a few more accomplices—were involved in carrying out the blasts.

A senior police officer said preliminary investigation revealed that Mohahmed Qateel Siddiqi alias Sajjan alias Sajan alias Javed alias Shahjada Salim (27) of Darbhanga, Gayur Ahmad Jamali (21) of Madhubani and Farooq (25), also a native of Darbhanga, were involved in the blasts.

Further interrogation of the seven suspects revealed that one more arrested person, identified as Gauhar, was also involved in the blasts.

Hence, the Bangalore police want all these four in their custody.

Another police officer said Gauhar, a resident of Darbhanga, lived in New Delhi. In 2003, while he was in his village, he met Yasin Bhatkal, the main accused in the stadium blast case.

In 2007, he came to Delhi and in November 2008, he renewed his contact with Yasin and joined IM.

He provided logistics and financial support for terror strikes across the country, including the blasts at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

All the four accused will be in Delhi Police’s custody till February 22.

Expecting that the city police may get custody of the accused, a police team headed by assistant commissioner of police BN Nyamagowda is planning to go to Delhi and bring them to the city for investigation.

Sources said Mohahmed Qateel is wanted by Pune Police for investigating into the German Bakery blast.

They had filed a petition before the court, seeking his body warrant for investigation before the Bangalore police made such a move.

Besides, the Pune blast is more serious than Bangalore stadium blast as there were casualties.

The city police hope they may get at least three other accused, who are not wanted by the Pune police. “We will get them in our custody on Wednesday if Delhi Police’s investigation is over. We will bring them to the city and question them. More details about the case, including locals’ involvement, will be revealed in the investigation,” a senior police officer said.