The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on Saturday arrested two alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) activists from the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, who may be involved in the 7/11 Mumbai blasts. The arrests have given a ray of hope to the Mumbai police. With this, the number of people arrested in connection with the blasts have gone up to 21. While nine were booked for unlawful activities, the remaining were arrested for transporting, planting and exploding bombs in local trains which killed 200 commuters. | “They were arrested following the confessional statement of arrested Al-badr divisional commander Tohfeen Akmal Hashmi about LeT militants involvement in the Mumbai blasts.” |
The Mumbai police took the custody of the duo after the disclosures made by Hasmi, who was arrested by the Army from Nadimarg in south Kashmir on Tuesday. However, a senior officer of the ATS in Mumbai, who confirmed the arrests, said: "It's too early to comment. Our officers are on their way to Mumbai with the two."
Meanwhile, the Mumbai ATS teams are now concentrating on finding the source of the RDX which was brought from South India via Kandla port in Gujarat. Investigations have revealed that at least 55 to 60 kg of RDX had landed in Maharashtra, out of which the ATS in May this year seized 43 kg of RDX, AK-47 and hand grenades. Sixteen people were arrested in this regard. The police said that the RDX used in the 7/11 blast may be part of the same consignment. "We're trying to trace where the 15 kg of RDX went. Once this is established the case will be solved," said an ATS officer.