Nasir Rangrej, an accused in the July 26, 2008, Ahmedabad serial blasts case that claimed 56 lives and left 200 others injured, has been arrested by a joint team of the Gujarat Crime Branch and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) from Belgaum in Karnataka.
Divulging details of the operation conducted by the forces, Gujarat ATS Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) B.S. Chavda on Monday said it was found in the course of investigation that the blasts were carried out by the Indian Mujahedeen and the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), following which many accused of the two groups were arrested.
"The arrested accused disclosed the name of Nasir Rangrej, as one of their members who was no arrested at that time," he added.
The DSP further said a joint team of the crime branch and ATS detained Nasir after Sub-Inspector (ATS) R.K. Solanki got the information that he is in Belgaum, Karnataka, and drives an auto-rickshaw.
"After questioning, it came to the fore that Nasir had joined Safdar Nagori, a SIMI leader, and took physical and bomb device making trainings at various places in Baba Garh (Rajasthan), Khandwa and other places," said Chavda, adding that they were also arrested twice in Karnataka when the state police had seized a laptop from their possession in which the police found suspicious details.
"Nasir was a member of the group that carried out the 2008 serial blasts. His name was disclosed by other accused arrested in this connection. His abject role will be known after the investigation," he said.
When asked about Nasir's possible allegiance with the Islamic State, the ATS officer said, "We could gather only these information during interrogation in the past 24 hours and further investigations would reveal if he had allegiance with the IS.
