AHMEDABAD: Abdul Halim, an operative of the banned SIMI, who has been arrested in connection with the serial blasts, was today remanded in police custody for 14 days by a court here even as cops conducted raids and detained several persons for questioning.
Halim, who is also accused of recruiting people for 'jehadi' activities after the 2002 Gujarat riots, was sent to police custody by Metropolitan Magistrate G M Patel on an application moved by the crime branch of the city police.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ashish Bhatai, who has been heading the blasts probe, said that Halim has been questioned by the security agencies.
Halim was the first person to be arrested yesterday in connection with the 16 blasts that killed 49 people and left more than 145 injured.
Bhatia said raids were conducted in different part of Ahmedabad by the police last night and many people were detained for questioning.
The crime branch is also tracking cycles used in the serial blasts held in the city on Saturday. As per police sources, most of the cycles used in the blasts were second-hand ones.
The police questioned some of the cycle dealers of the city to find a lead, the sources said.
Police were also talking to a person who claimed that he had seen suspected bombers parking cycles in Raipur area here, they said.
Police in Surat sent material from two cars found packed with explosives to a forensic laboratory for tests.
"We have no found any leads so far about those behind the planting of explosives in Surat city. Several people have been detained for questioning," Surat Police Commissioner R M S Brar said.
