NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: By declaring the arrest of Naqee Ahmed today in last year's serial blasts in Mumbai, security agencies in the national capital feel that the Maharashtra ATS may be attempting to cover its tracks after the bombers involved slipped out.
Though Maharashtra ATS Chief Rakesh Maria was candid enough in admitting "competition" within various police forces in solving blast cases, officials at Union Home Ministry remained baffled as the announcement of arrest of 23-year-old Ahmed was flashed on television sets.
For the elite Special Cell of Delhi Police and special squad of Intelligence Bureau, Ahmed was the person who provided them with crucial leads in identifying Waqas and Tabrez, the two bombers in the 13/7 blast that left 27 people dead.
According to the officials, Ahmed was in Mumbai only to help in tracking down two bombers and the highly-secretive operation was being monitored by the top echelons of the security establishment closely from Delhi.
Ahmed was in the megapolis with undercover sleuths to help nab the two bombers, whom the Anti Terrorism Squad(ATS) Chief today identified as suspect A and suspect B.
Naquee's submissions to the ATS form a part of statement that he had given to Delhi Police Special Cell.
In the national capital, his elder brother Taquee is moving from pillar to post to seek help for his brother.
"He has been helping the police only. Has this been heard before that a person is behind bars for being a informer of another police force. I think we are a democratic country," Taquee said, as tears rolled down his cheeks.
In Mumbai court, Naquee's counsel Khalid Azmi was reportedly disallowed from meeting his client.