Hyderabad blasts: NIA gets custody of IM operatives

Two alleged operatives of banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen were on Thursday remanded by a Delhi court in five-day NIA custody for their interrogation in connection with the February 21 twin blasts in Hyderabad which claimed 16 lives.

Syed Maqbool and Imran Khan, who are currently lodged in Tihar Jail in New Delhi following their arrest by the Delhi Police in the August 2012 Pune blast case, were handed over to NIA for their custodial interrogation after the agency alleged they had in July last year recced Hyderabad's Dilsukhnagar area where the blasts occurred.

The order was passed by District Judge I S Mehta after the agency submitted that the duo are suspected members of IM and their sustained custodial interrogation is required to unearth the module which was behind the blasts.

According to National Investigation Agency, the blasts took place on alleged instructions of IM's Pakistan-based founder Riyaz Bhatkal and the duo's interrogation will help in unearthing the exact plan envisaged by him.

The blasts in Hyderabad were triggered by IEDs planted near Konark and Venkatadiri theatres in Dilsukhnagar area.

The court had on February 25 issued production warrants and had directed the authorities of Tihar Jail to produce the suspected IM operatives before it on February 27.

NIA had earlier moved the court seeking their custody.

The two were lodged in prison under judicial custody after being arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in connection with the August 2012 Pune blast case.