The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have arrested a hawala operator allegedly involved in the 13/7 Mumbai triple blasts case. The suspect is alleged to have provided funding for the blasts to Yasin Bhatkal from Dubai. The suspect was arrested from the Goa airport after he was held by immigration authorities following a lookout notice issued against him in 2012.
The arrested person has been identified as Abdul Mateen Damada alias Farooq, 50.
According to additional director general of police, ATS, Himanshu Roy, Damada landed at Goa airport from Dubai on July 14. "He was apprehended by the immigration authorities following a lookout notice issued against him in 2012 and was handed over to the ATS. He was produced before the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court on Wednesday, which remanded him to ATS custody till July 28," Roy said.
The ATS have so far arrested Naqi Ahmed Wasi Ahmed Shaikh, Nadeem Akhtar Ashfaque Shaikh, Kawalnayan Pathreja, Haroon Rashid Naik, Mohammad Kafeel Ansari, Yasin Bhatkal and Asadullah Akhtar in the 13/7 case. Two other accused in the said case, Waqas Ahmed and Tehseen Akhtar alias Monu, are presently in the custody of the National Investigation Agency. Those still wanted in the case are Riyaz Bhatkal, Wasim alias Ibrahim, Muzaffar Kola and his nephew Ubaid.
"Damada is the brother-in-law of Kola, a resident of Bhatkal. He, along with Kola, had financed the 13/7 blasts. Damada had sent Rs10 lakh from Dubai, to Pathreja, a Delhi-based hawala operator. The said consignment was picked up from Pathreja by Yasin on March 31, 2011. Ubaid too is involved in the finance of the blasts. Damada was probably heading towards Bhatkal from Goa," said another ATS officer.
As per the ATS, Damada has been staying in Dubai since the past 15 years and was involved in a lottery business there. "Damada's name first cropped up during the interrogation of Naqi and later, Yasin. We will be investigating his purpose of visiting India," said the officer.
During peak hours of July 13, between 18:52 and 19:05, blasts took place at Zaveri Bazaar, Opera House and Dadar. The blasts were carried out by dreaded terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen, wherein 27 persons were killed and 127 others were left severely injured.
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