Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad,which today arrested three more members of terror outfitIndian Mujahideen in August 1 Pune blasts case, said theconspiracy began after the murder of Qatil Siddiqui, anaccused in German Bakery blast case, at Pune's Yerawada jail.
"The plan to carry out blasts started immediately afterSiddiqui was killed," said Rakesh Maria, ATS chief, here.
ATS today arrested Sayyed Arif alias Kashif Biyabani(32), Munib Iqbal Memon (31) and Farooq Bagwan (31). A Punecourt remanded them in ATS's custody till January 1.
Maria said these three were arrested after the ATS tookinto custody Firoze Sayyed, Irfan Landge, Imran Khan and AsadKhan from the Delhi police in the present case.
Biyabani was the one who identified potential recruitsfor IM, and put them in touch with Fayyaz Kagzi, a wantedaccused in the German Bakery case, currently in the custody ofSaudi Arabian authorities. "Kagzi directed them to IM founderIqbal Bhatkal and Riyaz Bhatkal," Maria added.
Biyabani had connections in Marathwada, Pune, Ahmednagar,Maria said, adding that Memon and Bagwan procured SIM cardsthat were used in phones used in the conspiracy.
According to ATS, Firoze was one of the planters, and itis now looking for two others. Maria said that Firoze, Asad,Irfan and Imran underwent training to assemble improvisedexplosive devices (IEDs) at Asad's farm-house in Aurangabad.
"The training was imparted by Maqbool Siraj, arrested byDelhi police in October." ATS recovered three computers, alaptop, a pistol and four live rounds from the accused. Memonworked as a master cutter in Firoze's tailoring shop whileBagwan had a computer animation centre on the mezzanine floorof one of the shops of Firoze, he said.
On August 1 this year four low-intensity explosions tookplace in Pune, injuring one person. Siddiqui was murdered bytwo inmates of Yerawada jail earlier, allegedly because of hisinvolvement in 'anti-national' act.