fter doing a tremendous job in cracking the 7/11 Mumbai blasts, the Anti-Terrorism Squad of the Maharashtra police has turned its full attention to the Malegaon blasts.
Taking a step closer to cracking the case, the ATS this week arrested a second suspect in connection with the blasts that killed 31 people last month.
Shabbir Ahmed Masiullah Ansari (36), who is already in the custody of the Mumbai police since August 2, was arrested in Malegaon for his alleged complicity in the Malegaon blasts, officials said.
The first suspect, Noor-ul-Hooda, a Students Islamic Movement of India activist, was arrested on October 30 and was charged with planting explosives that went off in the textile town.
Ansari is a resident of Jaffarnagar locality in Malegaon and operated a battery making unit, ATS officials said.
In 2003, Ansari allegedly went to Pakistan and obtained training in arms and ammunition, they said.
Like Ansari, Hooda was already arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for his alleged role in a bomb hoax at a shopping complex in Malegaon on September 13.
Ansari was one of two suspects held for the September 8 blasts. The other is Raees Ahmed.
Bombs used in the blasts were assembled in the garage of main conspirator Shabbir in Malegaon, officials said.
Image: ATS officers escorting the two suspects to the court on Friday.
Photograph: Arun Patil
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'The average Indian Muslim wants room to survive'
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