M A I N   N E W S

3 booked under POTA for Gateway of India blast

Mumbai, October 13
In the first arrest in the Gateway of India blast case, the police today booked under POTA prime accused Sayed Mohammed Hanif, his wife Fahimida and associate Arshat Shafi Ahmed Ansari, who are already in judicial custody in connection with the Ghatkopar explosion.

The trio, who were earlier booked under POTA after their arrest in the Ghatkopar blast case of July 28, were produced before designated Judge A. P. Bhangale who sent Hanif and Arshat to hospital for medical check up as they alleged that the police had assaulted and tortured them in jail.

In the Gateway of India blast case of August 25, these three accused are the first to be arrested.

Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam sought the arrest of accused in Gateway of India blast on the ground that they were identified by witnesses in a police parade on October 6.

He said Arshat was a conspirator while Hanif and wife executed the blasts.

The court allowed the police to arrest the accused in Gateway of India blast and suggested that their police custody could be obtained tomorrow. In Ghatkopar bomb blast of July 28, they were remanded in judicial custody till October 28. — PTI