ATS detains 200 blast suspects across Maharashtra

MUMBAI: At least 200 people, mostly SIMI activists, have been detained from Mumbai and various parts of Maharashtra by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for questioning in connection with Tuesday's serial bomb blasts in the city, police said on Thursday.

In an overnight drive by city police, railway stations, lodges and hotels were searched and suspected activists of Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) rounded up from their homes, sources said adding that the detained people would be interrogated to collect clues regarding the blasts.

ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi told PTI that several persons have been rounded up since Wednesday night, but no one has been arrested yet. "It is a routine procedure of investigation and the detained will be interrogated in connection with the
blasts," Raghuvanshi added.

Sources in DGP's office said that similar searches were conducted at hotels and lodges and activists of the Islamic student body rounded up in various parts of Marathwada and Konkan regions, traditional SIMI strongholds.

Over 200 people died in seven blasts that ripped off first class compartment of western railway suburban trains on Tuesday evening, leaving more that 750 injured.

Police suspect that the bombs were placed in leather bags and kept in luggage racks, and went off in a span of 20 minutes.