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Doctor held in Mumbai

Rahi Gaikwad

Member of Indian Mujahideen: police

Mumbai: The Mumbai crime branch police have arrested medical doctor Anwar Ali Bagwaan (26), a terror suspect and a member of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), Rakesh Maria, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) told journalists on Tuesday.

Dr. Anwar was arrested here on Monday on his arrival from Hyderabad. He was produced in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court on Tuesday, which remanded to police custody till January 16.

With Dr. Anwar’s arrest, the total number of IM members arrested is 21. All have been charged under the MCOCA for alleged involvement in a series of blasts across the country — in Delhi, Bangalore, Surat and Ahmedabad. The IM’s media wing is responsible for sending terror e-mails before the blast.

Mr. Maria said Dr. Anwar helped to procure accommodation for IM members in Pune. He put them up at two flats in two buildings – one at Ashoka Mews from July 2006 and another at Kamaldeep Park from 2005 end. Ashoka Mews was the base of IM activity. The rent for the first flat was Rs. 9,000 a month, excluding a deposit of Rs. 31,000. The second was taken for Rs. 2, 800 a month. “He took these flats in his name as other IM members were finding it difficult to get accommodation. Being a doctor, getting a place was easy for him. Riaz Bhatkal took care of the rent. The money was paid in cash,” said Mr. Maria.

IM members Riaz and his brother Iqbal are key suspects in the blast cases. They are still absconding.

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