MCOCA court issues warrant against IM operative Afzal Usmani

The MCOCA court today issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Afzal Usmani, an Indian Mujahideen operative accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad bombings, who escaped from the sessions court premises here a week ago.

The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court judge A L Pansare issued the arrest warrant against Usmani after Mumbai police's crime branch today filed an application, saying that he had not yet been traced.

Usmani escaped from the court premises on September 20 where he had been brought for a hearing in connection with a terror-related case. He and others are accused of hacking Wi-Fi networks and sending emails to media organisations and others minutes before the various bomb blasts carried out by the IM.

According to police, Usmani was also involved in stealing four cars which were used to transport explosives to Ahmedabad and Surat. He was also charged with planting bombs.

A series of 21 blasts rocked Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008 within a span of 70 minutes, killing 56 people and wounding over 200. Two of the blasts took place inside the premises of two hospitals, 40 minutes after the initial blasts.

Colaba Police here have registered an FIR against Usmani under IPC section 224 (Resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension) and have launched a manhunt.