Man wanted in Kanpur blast arrested in Mumbai

A man, wanted in connection with the 2000 Kanpur blast case, has been arrested in Mumbai by a joint team of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra ATS officials.

Mohammad Asad alias Arshad, an accused in the blast which injured three policemen, was arrested yesterday at Nala Sopara-West in Mumbai, ATS officials said today.

Arshad was absconding since the August 14, 2000, blast in Arya Nagar area of Kanpur, they said, adding that he was presently working in Astech Internet Solution in Nalasopara.

According to ATS, Arshad confessed that he was a member of SIMI and they had planned serial blasts on August 15, 2000, for which they planted RDX in a pressure cooker and tested it also. However, blasts did not occur on the Independence Day.

After the blast on August 14, he fled to Mumbai to evade arrest.

"The ATS has got transit remand of Arshad and he will be brought to UP for further interrogation", they said.