Date:15/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/15/stories/2003051503521100.htm

National

`Arrests unveil plan to cause serial blasts'

Mumbai May 14. With the arrest of three persons and arms seizure from Padgah village in Thane district, police today claimed to have reached the root of a conspiracy by members of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants to cause a series of explosions in Mumbai and Kerala.

The Police Commissioner, R.S. Sharma, today said the explosions in Ghatkopar, Mumbai Central, Vile Parle and Mulund in the past five months were linked to the same conspirators.

Mr. Sharma said police had so far seized four AK 46 rifles, three pistols, two revolvers, two guns, 250 hand grenades, 160 live cartridges, 11 empty cartridges and three pipebombs at Padgah village. Most of these weapons were seized last night from a well. Significantly, one of the grenades found was made in an Ordnance factory.

``We also recovered potassium cyanide whose gas could be lethal if inhaled,'' he said.

With the arrest of the trio, identified Muzzamal Ansari, Mohammed Nadir Palob and Arif Hussain,

the total number of those arrested in Mulund bomb blast case has gone up to 12.

``The group had also planned to set off explosives at Gateway of India, Chowpatty and Mantralaya in Mumbai.

A major explosion was also planned in Kerala,'' Mr. Sharma said. — PTI