Three more arrested in Bengaluru serial blasts case

Three more people have been arrested in connection with the serial blasts that rocked the city in July last year on the basis of interrogation of two Lashkar-e-Tayiba suspects, a top police official said.

LeT suspects Naseer and Shafaz Shamsuddin, who were handed over to India by Bangladesh rifles recently and subsequently brought to Bengaluru, provided the information leading to the arrests, Bangalore Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said. Four vehicles used for transporting explosive materials and planting of bombs were seized from the arrested people -- Tajuddin from Vadimara, Surfuddin from Kannur (both in Kerala) and Abdul Khadar from Virajpet (Karnataka).

The Bengaluru serial blasts were carried out with financial assistance and guidance by LeT.

Besides, Naseer and Shafaz were financially assisted by the Pakistan-based militant outfit during their stay in Bangladesh, Bidari said.

Nazir also revealed his involvement in various other terror activities including the Kalamassery bus burning incident, twin blasts at Kozhikode, attempt to murder former Kerala chief minister E K Nayanar and the Coimbatore Press Club bomb blasts, he said. The police have registered nine cases in connection with the Bengaluru serial blasts. Nazir and Shafaz have been questioned by the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu police.