Two SIMI activists get 10-day remand in Guj blast case

Ahmedabad, Sep 16 (UNI) A local court today remanded two local SIMI activists, Umar alias Ashok Kalabhai Muslim and Salim Jamalbhai Sipahi, to ten-day police custody for their alleged involvement in the Ahmedabad serial blasts that left 60 people dead.

Metropolitan Magistrate G M Patel, after hearing arguments of both the sides, ordered police remand for Umar and Salim till September 26.

However, police had demanded 14-day remand.

The duo was arrested yesterday by Ahmedabad City Crime Branch, the main investigative agency for the Gujarat Terror Plot, for their alleged role in the July 26 serial blasts in Ahmedabad and bomb plantation in Surat.

Police argued before the court that these accused were needed to be thoroughly interrogated to ferret out details of the Gujarat terror plot, the financial, arms and explosives as well as logistic support given by other people, as such a vast plot could be executed just by a small group.

Umar alias Ashok was born Hindu but later converted to Islam.

He arranged meetings of SIMI activists at his residence in Muslim-dominated Juhapura area of the city. Umar was also involved in jehadi activities and terrorist conspiracies.

Salim learnt the bomb making at the tender age of 14 and made bombs that were used in Ahmedabad serial blasts and elsewhere.

The Gujarat police have till date arrested 21 SIMI activits, including prime accused and one of the masterminds Abu Bashar Mufti, who was arrested from Azamgadh in Uttar Pradesh by Gujarat police in August.

Investigations have so for revealed that Mufti visited Delhi in July and stayed there for three days.

Police also riased doubts before the court that these accused might have a hand in the recent serial blasts in New Delhi as the pattern of terror attacks is the same as in Ahmedabad.

UNI HT-MP OBB GT RK1910