Nasir Rangrej, accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case that claimed 56 lives and left 200 others injured, was arrested by a joint team of the Gujarat Crime Branch and the Anti-Terrorism Squad from Belgaum in Karnataka.
Gujarat ATS Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) B.S. Chavda said on Monday it was found during investigations that the blasts were carried out by the Indian Mujahideen and the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), following which accused from both the groups were arrested.
“The arrested accused disclosed the name of Nasir Rangrej as one of their members who was not arrested at that time,” he added.
The crime branch and the ATS detained Nasir after Sub-Inspector (ATS) R.K. Solanki got the information that he was an auto rickshaw driver in Belgaum, Chavda said.
“After questioning, it came to the fore that Nasir 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 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.
{{/usCountry}}“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.
{{/usCountry}}When asked about Nasir’s possible allegiance with the Islamic State, the ATS officer said, “We could gather this information only during interrogation in the past 24 hours. Further investigations will reveal if he had allegiance with the IS.”