ATS arrest 3 more suspects for Pune JM Road blasts

The Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) have arrested three suspects, two from Pune and one from Aurangabad, for alleged involvement in the August 1 Pune J M Road serial bomb blast conspiracy, taking the number of people in ATS custody in the case to seven.

ATS claimed that one of the arrested on Wednesday night was a link between terror operative Fayyaz Kagzi and the suspects arrested earlier in the case and that all the three were linked to the banned Indian Mujahideen.

ATS identified the suspects as Sayyed Arif alias Kashif Sayyed Zafruddin Biyabani (32) of Aurangabad, Munif Iqbal Memon (31) of Kondhwa and Farukh Shawkat Bagwan (31) of Ghorpade Peth.

The ATS recently got custody of four suspects arrested by Delhi police.

The ATS claimed Biyabani, 32, is a prized catch as his name surfaced during the German Bakery blast probe and later during interrogation of Syed Zabiuddin Sayed Zakiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal. Biyabani is a real estate agent and a final-year law student, said ATS.

The other two were from Pune. Police said Memon worked at a tailoring shop owned by Firoz Sayyed (38), arrested earlier. Bagwan had a DTP shop at Jan Mohammed street near Firoz's shop, which was sealed by the ATS.

Biyabani, a final law student, and his statements were recorded in German Bakery and 26/11 case.

ATS chief Rakesh Maria said, "Biyabani first introduced the four suspects arrested earlier, to Kagzi, who later introduced them to Bhatkal brothers."

The three were produced in the court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Yashshree Marulkar on Thursday afternoon.

Maria said, "Memon and Bagwan knew about the plot and helped the other suspects in forging documents to get SIM cards. With his arrest, it is now clear Biyabani is the one who identifies men to be recruited for terror activities and puts them in touch with Kagzi. Kagzi, in turn, puts them on to IM leader Iqbal Bhatkal and his brother Riyaz. It's Biyabani's "connections" in Marathwada, Pune and Ahmednagar that helped him in scouting talent.

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