LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Gujarat police in a joint operation on Saturday arrested Qadir Ahmad, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blast case, from Najibabad police station in West UP’s Bijnor district.
Qadir Ahmad is believed to have been one of the point men of Tiger Memon, the prime accused and key conspirator of the Mumbai blasts, in Jamnagar where he received Menon’s consignment of explosives, arms and ammunition.
This consignment was later used in the mayhem which caused over 250 deaths and injured more than 750 people. According to police, a Gujarat court had decided the charges against Qadir under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA).
“Qadir had been absconding for the last 24 years,” said Inspector General (IG) of the ATS Aseem Arun. However, police believe that Qadir had been in touch with wanted underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. This revelation has sent alarm bells ringing for the country’s anti-terror agencies.
According to IG Aseem Arun, the charges were fixed against Qadir Ahmad in 1993 after his role in supplying arms and explosives for the blasts was confirmed. “On Saturday morning, sleuths of the Uttar Pradesh ATS and the Gujarat cops rounded up Qadir in a joint operation,” confirmed the IG, adding that the criminal was interrogated by the ATS for over an hour after which the Gujarat police proceeded to Bijnor district court, taking him on a transit remand.
According to police sources, the fugitive, during his interrogation is believed to have admitted to his role in supplying arms which led to the blasts. “He has also disclosed that he had been in contact with Dawood and used to talk to the don,” said a senior police official.
However, Inspector General Aseem Arun refused to reveal much saying that more information would be shared only after Qadir Ahmad was interrogated by his Gujarat counterparts.