5 picked from Mumbai for Delhi, Ahmedabad blasts

The five have been identified as - Abdul Afzal Usmani, Mohammad Saidq Shaikh, Mohammad Aarif Shaikh, Ahmed Zakir Shaikh and Shaikh Mohammad Ansari.

"Usmani, a resident of Azamgad in Uttar Pradesh had planted bombs at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and had stolen four vehicles from Navi Mumbai, which were used in Ahmedabad blasts," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria said.

Sadiq was arrested from Cheetah Camp in north-east Trombay area. Aarif has been accused of making the explosives used in the blasts.

"These five persons were involved in all the blasts across the country since 2005. They have links with LeT and the Huji Terror groups," Maria said.

The police have also recovered ten kg of ammonium nitrate, four electric circuits, submachine gun and revolvers.

Ansar, a software engineer by profession, was responsible for assembling the bombs.

Usmani had planted bombs at the Ahmedabad civil hospital and had stolen four vehicles from Navi Mumbai which were used in the Ahmedabad blasts, Maria said.

Saddik is believed to be one of the founder members of Indian Mujahideen along with Atif.

"Saddik used to lure youths from his village Sanjarpur in Azamgarh and was involved in the planning of Delhi and Ahmedabad blasts," Maria said.

The police recovered ten kilograms of ammonium nitrate, four electric circuits, submachine gun and revolvers from the arrested persons. The explosives and weapons seized from them came from Karnataka, he said.

"Roshan Khan, founder member of Indian Mujahideen, is still at large and is suspected to be in Pakistan," Maria said.

Khan, resident of Karnataka, has been active in Hyderabad, Maharashtra, Delhi and Gujarat, Maria said.

"Three of the accused had gone to Pakistan to undergo training, which was allegedly supported by the LeT and Huji," Maria said adding the money for weapons and explosives came through Hawala channels.

"The five have been booked for criminal conspiracy and under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Explosives Act and Arms Act," Maria said.

These five have also been cited as accused in the chargesheet of the 7/11 serial train blasts in Mumbai.

All the five had at some point of their career worked for SIMI members but later broke away to form more radical Indian Mujahideen, he said.

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