Fugitive on 'most wanted' list found staying in Thane
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In an acute embarrassment to India, Wazhul Kamar Khan, whose name figures in the '50 most wanted' fugitives' list submitted to Pakistan, has been found staying in neighbouring Thane district.
Khan, who was arrested in 2010 for his alleged role in the 2003 Mulund train blasts here, has been living in Thane's Waghle Estate with his mother, wife and children, after he was let out on bail, police sources said.
Asked about Khan's presence in Maharashtra, state home minister R.R. Patil said he is looking into the issue.
"I have sought information in the matter," Patil said, when asked about the police being left red-faced after reports that the apparent goof-up by the crime branch and ATS here led to Wazhul's inclusion in the 'most wanted' list.
Khan is also an accused in the 2003 Vile-Parle and Ghatkopar blasts besides the 2002 Mumbai central station blasts, they said.
The Vile Parle, Mulund and Ghatpokar cases have been clubbed together and the trial is yet to begin, the sources said.
On March 13, 2003, 11 people were killed and over 80 injured when a bomb exploded in a ladies coach at the Mulund railway station here.
In January the same year, an explosion took place near the suburban railway station in Vile Parle in which one person was killed and over 25 injured.
Later in July 2003, a bomb exploded in a public transport bus in Ghatkopar, claiming four lives and leaving several others injured. In December 2002, an explosion near Mc Donalds in Mumbai central station had left 25 people injured.
Khan is accused of havign transported bombs to these sites to execute the blasts.
India had on Wednesday come out with the list of 50 'most wanted fugitives' hiding in Pakistan. They include underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, 26/11 mastermind and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba founder Hafiz Saeed and dreaded terrorist Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.
The list has Saeed on top, followed by Major Iqbal, a suspected serving Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officer, who also figures in the FBI indictment in a Chicago court in connection with the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
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