The ATS deputy commissioner Ravindra Kadam confirmed the detention of the three. The trio detained in Udgir in Latur district included Saber Mamu Patel, who is alleged to have assisted the mastermind Himayat Baig in the bakery blast and is alleged to have participated in the conspiracy that was hatched at Baig’s Global Internet Café in Udgir.
Patel also figures in the ATS record for his alleged involvement in six cases of communal riots and was alleged to be a ‘hidden partner’ in the café of Baig -- alleged to be the Maharashtra unit chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
According to ATS sources, Patil is being interrogated in Pune to ascertain if he was aware of the alleged meetings between Baig and Indian Mujahideen terrorists Mohsin Chowdhary and Yasin Bhatkal at the cafe between January and February prior to the blasts.
ATS investigations have so far revealed that the suspects had assembled the explosives for the blast at Baig’s cafe.
The ATS officials also detained Khurshid Alam, imam at a mosque in Udgir. He is alleged to have known Baig and the ATS men are probing if Alam had provided any logistical support to Baig. The third detainee Abdul Indori is also being questioned to know if he was part of the blast conspiracy.
Kadam said that Baig wanted a legal cover for which he developed contacts with the PFI and attended a PFI function in Pune in January. Kadam confirmed issuing a notice to the PFI state unit chief Qureshi for questioning. ATS suspects that Baig had formed sleeper cells in the Marathwada region particularly in Beed and Latur districts and that Patel, Alam and Indori were in constant touch with Baig.
The ATS has also questioned Syed Abdullah Khwaja , son of Udgir’s municipal council chief, as the Internet connection to Baig’s café was in his name.
