UP ATS arrests key link to Ahmedabad blasts

Lucknow, Aug 16 (UNI) In a major breakthrough in Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts of July 26, the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh has succeeded in arresting an alleged SIMI activist, Mufti Abdul Bashar Islahi from the state capital on the eve of Independence Day.

In fact, the Ahmedabad police had sought cooperation of ATS in arrest of Abdul Bashar, who is alleged to have close terrorist links and was one of the key persons in July 26 bomb blasts which had left many killed.

The investigators did not rule out his involvement in the earlier Malegaon and Bangalore bomb blasts as well but it was subject to further probe, highly placed UP police sources told UNI.

According to the sources, Abdul Bashar, son of one Abu Baqar belonged to Binapara village under Saraimeer police station of Azamagarh district and was a Mufti in a madarsa. He was arrested from Maulviganj area of Lucknow.

He has been handed over to Ahmedabad police for further investigation.

It is believed that the interrogation of Abdul Bashar would reveal several things related to the bomb blasts.The police authorities, however, refused to divulge anthing further.

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