PC of 2 Malegaon blast accused extended

Mumbai, Nov 24: The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court here has extended the police custody of two Malegaon blasts accused -- Shaikh Mohammed Ali Shaikh (37) and Asif Khan Bashir Khan Junaid (30) -- till December 1.

The Anti Terrorist Squad today sought the extension, contending that in view of the inputs received from them during their interrogation which points to their involvement in the 7/11 Mumbai train serial blasts too, and considering the advanced stage of investigation, further custody of the duo was required.

Special Court Judge M R Bhatkar granted the ATS request, and extended the police custody of the duo till December 1.

However, the ATS did not seek further custody of three other accused -- Noorul Huda Samsudoha (23), Shabir Ahmed Masiullah (36) and Rais Ahmed Razaq Mansuri (30). Hence, the court remanded them in judicial custody, also till December 1.

Meanwhile, interrogation of two other accused in the Malegaon blasts case -- Salman Farsi Abdul Latif Aimi and Farogh Anwar Iqbal Maqdumi, both of whom are also in police custody till December 1, led the ATS to arrest a key member of the organised crime syndicate, Mohd Zahid Abdul Majid Ansari, from Yavatmal on November 21.

Three blasts on September 8 this year in and around a mosque at Malegaon in Nasik district, had killed 25 people died and injured 240 others injured. The ATS has, so far, arrested eight persons in connection with the blasts.

UNI

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