Mumbai, Oct 12: Most of the witnesses identified the prime suspects in the August 25 twin blasts here this week thereby paving the way for their arrest, even as police today said the money for explosions was supplied through hawala from a foreign country. Prime suspects, Sayed Abdul Hanif, his wife Fahimida, daughter Farheen and associate Arshat Shafi Ahmed Ansari were paraded before the witnesses this week, crime branch sources said adding most of them had identified the accused involved in the twin blasts.
Their arrests under Pota in Gateway of India blast was imminent, sources said. They were also involved in another blast at Zaveri Bazaar on the same day. Fifty-three people were killed and over 100 were injured in the explosions. This is for the first time that identification parade is held before the arrest of the accused. This was being done in the fairness of investigations, police said.
Hanif, Fahimida and Arshat would be produced tomorrow for further remand in the July 28 explosion at Ghatkopar. They have been arrested in this case and also booked under Pota in another case of explosive seizure. However, daughter of Hanif, Farheen, has been sent to juvenile remand home as she is a minor.
Police said the accused had links with Lashkar-e-Toiba militants in Dubai and received money through hawala from a foreign country for blasts.
The accused did not open bank accounts as they were afraid that they would be traced and arrested, police added.
Bureau Report