NIA gets custody of two IM operatives involved in twin blasts

A local court today allowed National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take custody of two alleged Indian Mujahideen operatives - Tahsin Akhtar alias Monu and Zia-ur Rahman alias Waqas - involved in the 2013 Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case, for questioning.

The accused were brought from Delhi on a transit warrant and produced before the court here.

Though the probe agency requested 20 days custody of the accused, the court granted only 15 days. The duo will be under judicial remand till June 23.

A special court in Delhi yesterday allowed the plea of NIA Hyderabad seeking three days transit remand of the two accused.

NIA had earlier claimed before the court that Tehsin and Waqas had "exclusive knowledge" about the plans of IM to carry out terror attacks in the country in future. It had also said that IM Indian chief Yasin Bhatkal, his aide Asadullah Akhtar and other top operatives of the banned terror outfit were in touch with Tehsin and Waqas.

Tehsin and Waqas, along with other alleged IM operatives, Mohd Maroof, Wakar Azhar and Mohd Saqib Ansari, were arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in March this year.

The twin blasts, triggered by powerful IEDs, planted near Konark and Venkatadiri theatres in Dilsukhnagar, a crowded shopping area in the city had left 17 dead and 100 injured on February 21, 2013.