Finally, Indian intelligence agencies have arrested a key conspirator in the German Bakery bomb blast case. Zabiuddin Ansari of Beed, a childhood friend of other bomb blast accused Mirza Himayat Baig, was arrested in New Delhi on Monday.

According to Baig’s statement to the state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) earlier, Ansari became part of the Indian Mujahideen’s (IM) 2005-06 module which was responsible for several bomb blasts in the country. All these were allegedly masterminded by Yasin and Riyaz Bhatkal.

Baig was arrested by the ATS on September 7, 2010 for allegedly planting the bomb at GB on February 13, 2010. Ansari had disappeared after a massive arms haul at Aurangabad in 2006, after which it was suspected that he fled to Pakistan via Dubai.
 
However, Baig and Ansari stayed in touch and exchanged several e-mails. It is also suspected that Ansari was in touch with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) top brass.

Maharashtra ATS has decided to seek Ansari’s custody from Delhi-based intelligence agencies for further investigations. Ansari is wanted in three Maharashtra ATS cases — the Aurangabad arms haul, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the German Bakery bomb blast.

ATS may also probe  Ansari’s link with Pakistani-American David Headley also accused in the GB case.