Mumbai police conduct searches in all hotels, lodges

MUMBAI: Police have searched almost all hotels, lodges and public places throughout the city in connection with the probe into Tuesday's bomb blasts, officials said on Sunday.

 

The searches, which the officials termed as routine, were carried out on Saturday night at nearly 250 places, but no one was detained or arrested.

 

Officials said although searches of this magnitude were being conducted for the first time after the blasts, police stations have also been searching lodges, hotels and public places in their areas virtually every day since Tuesday.

 

Earlier this week, police conducted raids at Malwani and Naya Nagar in Mahim, detaining over 500 people, most of who were released immediately after verification of their identities.

 

A report from Aurangabad said seven alleged SIMI members were called in for interrogation by the Anti-Terrorism Cell of the local police.
    
There were 10 SIMI members in the area when the Centre imposed a ban on the organisation. One of them had since died and another, Amir Shakil, was arrested by police on May 9.
    
One SIMI member is missing, police sources said, adding the seven persons were later released.

 

In Akola, Special Inspector General of Police V D Mishra said there were 172 SIMI activists in Amravati region before the ban. However, many of them had left the organisation, he said.