13/7 blasts: ATS pins hopes on arrested IM men

Desperate for a breakthrough in the July 13 triple blasts, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad is now looking to question two recently-arrested alleged Indian Mujahideen operatives.

In the last two days, a unit of the Mumbai ATS has arrested Haroon Rashid Abdul Hamid Naik and Asrar Ahmed Abdul Hamid Tailor, on charges of alleged possession and distribution of fake currency.

"While the ATS has on paper arrested the duo in a different case, the idea really is to question the suspects on their possible involvement in the recent 13/7 triple bombings," says a source from the ATS present during the court proceedings that took place in the special ATS court in Mazgaon. 

According to the remand copy, (rediff.com has a copy), the duo had allegedly made a trip to Pakistan via Nepal circa 2000 for jihadi training. Furthermore, the ATS alleges that both Haroon and Asrar were previously active members of Students Islamic Movement of India, and lately the IM.

The remand suggests that Haroon's sustained interrogation revealed that he had recruited several more operatives including Asrar.

With the court remanding the duo to ATS custody, the investigators are now looking to question the duo about the finances, from where their passport was made, and who were their other associates, especially in connection with their alleged links with the IM.

Taking a cue from the Abdul Samad fiasco, the ATS is being extra cautious about making any arrests, in 13/7 bombings, lest it backfires.

Its common practice with investigating agencies to arrest an accused in a smaller offence, interrogate the suspect, gather evidence and then go ahead and book them in the main case.

The ATS is also under tremendous pressure to crack the case. A cornered ATS is now also looking at the possibility of the involvement of absconding 7/11 train bombing accused.

In the last few days, close to a dozen suspects were questioned and let off for lack of evidence of their involvement.

A source said that Union Home Mminister P Chidambaram, in an emergency meeting held on Monday evening, took stock of the investigations and updates of the recent triple bombings as well as Pune's German Bakery blast.