16 years to nab terror accused of Bengaluru

Bengaluru: A 36-year-old terror suspect, who was on the run for the past 16 years after the church blast in Jagjivan Ram Nagar, was finally arrested by the sleuths of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The accused has been identified as Sheikh Amir Ali alias Amir Ali, a resident of Nalgonda district in Telangana.

Police said the First ACMM Court had issued warrant against Ali, who was absconding since July, 2000, in April this year. Following this, the CID had set up special team to nab him. The team, led by ADGP C.H. Pratap Reddy, was gathering details of the whereabouts of Ali for many months and traced him in Hyderabad. On Monday, he was arrested from Hyderabad with the assistance of the Telangana police.

It is said that Ali was accused of supplying explosive material to carry out the blast. “His elder brother was into the business of supplying explosives to quarries. Ali managed to get the explosives from his brother, who was unaware of his motive, and supplied it to the other accused in the case,” an official said.

Charge against Ali
Police said that Ali, colluding with the other accused in the case, had planted an explosive in S.S. Peter & Paul’s Church in Jagjivan Ram Nagar on July 9, 2000.

There was an explosion at 10.15 pm and the church’s rear wall and window panes were damaged in the incident. Investigations had revealed that a banned terrorist outfit Deendar Anjuman was behind the serial blasts.

six still at large

On July 9, 2000, serial bomb blasts took place in Wadi of Kalaburagi district, Keshavapura of Hubballi, Magadi Road and Jagjivan Ram Nagar in Bengaluru. It may be recalled that after planting explosives at St. Peter & Paul Church, the accused were heading to another church in a van.

As they were assembling the explosives, an accidental blast occurred at Minerva Mills and two were killed on the spot.

The state government had referred the case for CID probe, 29 people were arrested in this connection and the CID has already filed chargesheets against them. The court had sentenced 11 of them to death penalty, while 12 others got life imprisonment and six are still undergoing trial.

However, seven accused, including Ali, were at large and evading arrest.
Out of them, five are Pakistan nationals. The court has also issued an open warrant against these five fugitives.