Belagavi: On credible information, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested an alleged SIMI operative, wanted in the 2008 serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad from Belagavi on Sunday, June 19.

The arrested has been identified as Nasir Rangrez (38), an auto rickshaw driver by profession. ATS released a statement which said that Nasir was arrested at his residence at Khade Bazar Road in Belagavi on Sunday and brought him to Ahmedabad on Monday morning.

The officials who arrested him said that Rangrez was a part of a plan hatched by terror outfits Indian Mujahideen (IM) and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Their aim was to avenge killing of Muslims during the post-Godhra riots by spreading terror in Gujarat.

“Before carrying out the blasts in the city, Rangrez along with many other accused associated with SIMI and IM recruited Muslim men to take revenge of riots and provided them training at Pavagadh in Gujarat, Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh and Waghamon in Kerala,” the statement said.

According to the statement Rangrez was actively involved in training youths at a terror camp of Waghamon. They planned the blasts at these training sessions. These accused were led by IM founders Safdar Nagori and Yasin Bhatkal.

ATS Sub-inspector C R Jadav said that Rangrez, a native of Belagavi, never came to Ahmedabad to plant the bombs, but incited Muslim youths by showing them videos of post-Godhra riots.

It may be recalled that, terror outfit Indian Mujahideen took the responsibility of the deadly bomb blast that shook the nation killing 56 persons and injuring more than 200 on July 26, 2008.