Riazuddin Nasir, the Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative from Hyderabad and Karnataka is likely to be charged for conspiracy in the Gujarat serial blasts case.
Interrogations conducted by the Gujarat police on two accused in the Gujarat blasts case -- Abbas Sameja and Shaikh Ahmed -- have revealed that Nasir, the operative who was first picked up in north Karnataka was aware of the blasts.
Nasir who was at the Hindalga jail in Belgaum, Karnataka, all these days is now in the custody of the Gujarat police.
He is expected to be in their custody for the next 15 days. If the charges against Nasir are proved by the Gujarat police, then it becomes clear that there was a direct involvement of the LeT in the Gujarat blasts.
Nasir had told the police that he was trained by the LeT before he returned to Hyderabad and later on fled to Karnataka.
The Karnataka police too in their records have maintained that Nasir is an LeT operative. It also goes on to show the Students Islalic Movement of India-LeT link as Nasir had coordinated with SIMI chief Safdar Nagori to conduct these meetings.
The case of the Gujarat police is that Nasir had trained several youths and had also organised several meetings, including one at Hubli and Kerala. It is alleged that it was during these meetings that the plan to carry out serial blasts in Gujarat was mooted.
Although Nasir was not out at the time of the blasts, the police say that he still is a conspirator and can be booked.
The interrogations of both Sameja and Ahmed had revealed that Nasir had played a crucial role in the execution of the blasts in Gujarat.
A police official from Karnataka told rediff.com that he may be taken to Delhi to ascertain the role he could have played in the blasts that took place over there.
How Nasir treaded the terror route: Nasir, originally a resident of Hyderabad is the son of Moulana Nasiruddin, an accused in the Haren Pandya murder case.
Two years back when the Hyderabad police had arrested his father, he along with several others staged a protest in front of the police station. They also tried to block the path of the vehicle, which was carrying his father.
However, the protest turned ugly following which the police resorted to firing. In the melee, Nasir's friend Mujahid was shot dead.
Soon after this Nasir lodged a complaint with the police regarding Mujahid's death. Nasir and several persons from Hyderabad believed that Moulana Nasiruddin was innocent and was being framed uncessarily by both the Hyderabad and Gujarat police.
Saddened by the turn of events, Nasir met with some activists of both SIMI and LeT.
He then left for Saudi Arabia and then to Pakistan where he underwent training with the LeT.
He returned to Hyderabad and conveyed his anger against the police. The police allege that he was planning to bomb the director general of police's office in Hyderabad. However, when the plan was busted he moved to Karnataka where he went about recruiting and training youths.