M A I N   N E W S

Key suspect behind twin blasts held

Mumbai, October 2
In a major breakthrough, the Mumbai police today arrested Zahid Yusuf Patne, alias ‘Patni’, key suspect in the August 25 twin blasts here and the July 28 Ghatkopar explosion.

Patni has been booked under POTA for his alleged involvement in the Ghatkopar blast, which had claimed two lives, Assistant Commissioner of Police Suresh Walishetty said here this afternoon.

Patni, who returned yesterday to the country from Dubai on persuasion by his family, would be produced before designated POTA court Judge A.P. Bhangale here tomorrow, said Mr Walishetty, who is the investigating officer in the case.

Meanwhile, 10 months after the recovery of explosives from an Industrial area in suburban Andheri, the police has booked three suspects in the case under POTA, sources said here today.

Sixteen gelatin sticks and one detonator were recovered by the police from the Santacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) on December 2 last year.

Sayed Hanif, his wife Fahimida and associate Arshat Shafi Ahmed Ansari, arrested earlier in July 28 Ghatkopar bomb blast case, had been booked under POTA in the SEEPZ explosive seizure case also, the sources said.

POTA had been applied on the accused as there was evidence to show their involvement in the alleged crime, the sources said.

The investigation is being carried out by ACP Suresh Walishetty. — PTI