A special investigation team of the CID arrested three people in connection with the blast outside the BJP office in Bangalore.
Investigations revealed that the trio was involved in sourcing a pistol for Kichan Buhari, one of the key accused in the blast.
According to sources, following the interrogation of Mohammed Ansar, the man alleged to have received the pistol meant for Buhari, at the Palayamkottai prison, a special team was despatched to several locations across the State. While Salauddin alias Ibrahim (32), and Mohammed Nisar (23) were picked up from their homes on NH Road, Coimbatore, Munna, alias Mohammed Rafiq (25), was arrested in Dharmapuri two days ago.
Munna allegedly met one Sadha Aslam from Coimbatore at the Salem prison. Aslam is said to have had links with Buhari and had asked Munna to source a pistol and had asked him to take the money from Salauddin.
Salauddin gave him Rs 45,000, after which Munna went to Bihar and purchased a US-made 7.65mm pistol and handed it over to Nisar. Based on the leads provided to them by Mohammed Thasin, who was held for possessing 17 kg of explosives, police began their search of the weapon. Meanwhile, Mann Suleiman, had passed on the pistol to Ansar and asked him to dispose it. The police later found the weapon along with 53 rounds of ammo in a drain near Ansar’s home in Coimbatore.