Nagori remanded in judicial custody till July 14

Mumbai, July 1 (UNI) A local court today remanded Safdar Nagori, chief of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), and his three associates in judicial custody till July 14 for their alleged involvement in anti-national activities across the state, including the July 11, 2006 serial train bomb blasts in Mumbai.

Nagori and the other SIMI leaders were brought to Mumbai by the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra Police from Madhya Pradesh on June 22, after a transit remand was issued by a local Madhya Pradesh court to enable the ATS to probe their alleged involvement in the July 11, 2006 blasts and other anti-national activities.

In the July 11, 2006 serial bomb blasts in local trains here, 187 people were killed and over 700 injured.

Amongst others, the remanded, also includes Shibli Peedical Abdul, a top leader of SIMI who was reportedly present in the city on the day of the blasts.

All of them are booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

Additional Chief Metropolition Magistrate P R Deshmukh remanded the four in judicial custody.

Nagori is said to be acquainted with other serial train blasts accused and Maharashtra SIMI unit general secretary Ehtesham Siddiqui. He was wanted in a case filed in the city, in which Siddiqui was first arrested.

Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Police had arrested Nagori and Abdul, along with eleven others in March this year.

The accused were also wanted in a case of printing and distributing ''Jehadi'' literature in 2006.

According to sources, police from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and other states had also approached the court to take custody of these accused after the ATS completes its investigation.

UNI AAA MAZ RL HS1815