A key suspect in the Pune German Bakery blasts was arrested at Mangalore’s Bajpe Airport on Monday morning by a team from the Mumbai anti-terrorist squad. The suspect, Abdul Samad, alias Samad Bhatkal, had arrived on a flight from Dubai, sources said. According to investigating officials, Samad is a key suspect in the Pune blasts along with Yaseen Bhatkal. Samad is related to Riyaz Bhatkal, the founder of the Indian Mujahideen who is wanted by the ATS of four states.
The Mumbai ATS got a definite tip-off that Samad would return to his hometown via Dubai. An ATS official reportedly boarded the same flight — Air India’s XI 812 — as Samad. The team arrested him while he was collecting his luggage.
The accused will be questioned in connection with the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack as well, the sources said. In Mumbai, the ATS denied Samad had any links with the Pune blasts. DCP (ATS) Pradeep Sawant said, “We have not arrested him for the Pune bomb blasts.” When asked whether Samad had links with IM operative Yasin Bhatkal, Mr Sawant said an emphatic “No.”
Sources, however, said Samad had worked closely with Yaseen Bhatkal, the key accused in the Delhi and Ahmedabad serial blasts cases. According to sources, Samad’s travel plan was successfully tracked by ATS officials. He boarded an Air India Express flight from Dubai to Mumbai and from there caught a connecting flight to Mangalore. The Mumbai ATS team had been waiting for him at Mangalore airport since the morning, a police officer said.