Riyaz Bhatkal's kin planned Pune blast: ATS

Yasin Bhatkal, believed to be a relative of Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal, has been identified by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad as one of the main conspirators of the Pune blast, in which 17 people were killed.

Indian Mujahideen is suspected to be behind the blast in Pune's upscale Koregaon Park area, an ATS source said.

The ATS, which has submitted a preliminary report on investigations into the terror attack -- the first after the terror siege on Mumbai -- has claimed that the suspects have been identified and they will be arrested soon.

"One of the prime suspects has been identified as Yasin, who hails from Bhatkal village in Karnataka. We believe he is related to Riyaz, who is absconding," the source said.

The investigating agency, in its report, has identified four more suspects involved in the blast, the source said, adding they include the planters of the bomb-laden bag which went off in German Bakery.

Home Minister R R Patil had on Tuesday told the legislative council that the suspects would be arrested in a few days and more details would be disclosed at a later stage.

A powerful blast had ripped through the bakery, a popular eatery for foreigners near the Osho Ashram, on February 13.

The deceased included four foreigners. The Indian Mujahideen has been blamed by the police for a string of blasts across the country since 2006.

Twenty two of its members have been arrested so far for their alleged involvement in blasts at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi and for planting explosives in Surat.