AHMEDABAD: Suresh Nair, who had been on the run for 11 years in the 2007 Ajmer dargah bomb blast was arrested on Sunday by an anti-terrorism squad from Gujarat’s Bharuch.
According to NIA investigation, Nair allegedly supplied the bombs to those who planted explosives at the famed Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti’s shrine.
Nair, resident of Thasra in Kheda district was carrying a bounty of Rs 2 lakh on his head. According to NIA investigation, an ATS statement said that Nair, apart from allegedly supplying the bomb to the conspirators, was also also claimed to be present allegedly at the scene of the crime at the time of the plantation of the bomb. The blast had killed three people and left 17 others injured on October 11, 2007.
Acting on credible information that the accused is going to visit Shukaltirth in Bharuch, the ATS sleuths kept a constant watch over the place. Consequently, on his arrival, he was identified and apprehended by the ATS.
[also_read url=”https://www.siasat.com/news/out-bail-ajmer-blast-convict-accorded-heros-welcome-1402969/”]Out on bail, Ajmer blast convict accorded hero’s welcome[/also_read]
ATS brought to Ahmedabad for further interrogation. He will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for interrogation. It is worth mentioning that the NIA is investigating Ajmer Dargah blast.
“The operation was based on human intelligence. We came to know that Suresh would be coming to Shukaltirth in Bharuch. Accordingly, we sent a team to the place and kept a watch. He arrived two days ago, and his whole appearance had changed. He had a full beard and long hair like a sadhu,” said a senior ATS officer, who was part of the team that arrested Nair, as quoted the Indian Express report.
Agency inputs