Nasir alias Parvez Rangrez, an accused in the July 26, 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts, was arrested by the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Gujarat at Belagavi late on Sunday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Amarnth Reddy (Crime and Traffic) told press persons here on Monday that the team, lead by Inspector Bhavesh, arrived at Belagavi with an arrest warrant against Nasir. After arresting the accused, the team informed the Market Police Station and left for Gujarat with Nasir.
Nasir was arrested from a house in Bhadkal galli under the Market Police Station limits. The absconder was allegedly among those who carried out the barbaric blasts, killing 56 persons and leaving more than 200 injured in serial bomb blasts that rocked the Gujarat capital. The ATS acted on a tip-off that Nasir had taken shelter in Belagavi.
Neighbours who were unaware of Nasir’s arrest till journalists started making enquiries about him, were stunned to know that the youth who maintained a very cordial relationship with them and did not even venture out of his home during the communal clashes witnessed three to four times in the past four to five years, could have links with terrorists.
Neighbours shocked
Some neighbours said Nasir had rented the house some years ago from a businessman holding Power of Attorney for the actual owner of the house, stated to be somewhere in the Gulf. He was staying with his wife and two daughters, three and five-years-old. Nasir was engaged in chapati business.
A woman in the house refused to open the door when the media approached her. She said she had nothing to say. After some time, the door was found locked while the neighbours said they were not aware when she left the house.
Antecedents unknown
Some residents in the adjoining lanes identified Nasir but claimed they had seen him at a mosque near Khadebazaar. No one was aware from where Nasir came to Belagavi. Some said a medical practitioner often visited Nasir’s house during late night hours.
Sources in the Karnataka intelligence said Nasir alias Parvez Rangrez was arrested based on a tip-off by Alamzeb Afridi, a SIMI activist arrested from the Parappana Agrahara in January this year.
Afridi, also hailing from Gujarat and a prime accused in the 2007 Wagamaon SIMI conspiracy case and 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case, had taken shelter in the city as Mohammed Rafique, an AC repair mechanic. His interrogation by the NIA had revealed that he had carried out the 2014 Church Street blast and two arson attacks on the Israel Visa centre in 2015. “The arrest of Rangrez from Belagavi is an indication that Afridi may have had a network,” said an official.
