He was arrested in November last year by the Delhi Police for his involvement in various blasts in the country.

Pune: Suspected Indian Mujahideen operative Mohammad Qateel Siddiqui, lodged in Yerwada Central Jail for his alleged role in Pune's German Bakery blast as well as the Bangalore's Chinnaswamy stadium, was found murdered in his prison cell, police said today.

"Qateel was murdered in the jail," a senior ATS official told PTI.

Qateel was suspected to have been strangled to death by some inmates following a brawl, police said.

His death is likely to be a huge setback for agencies investigating a series of terror attacks in India post 2008, as he was seen as a key source of information on terrorist activities.

Qateel, was arrested by the Maharashtra ATS for his attempt to carry out a terror strike by planting a bomb outside the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganapti Temple. However, his bid was foiled.

He was arrested in November last year by the Delhi Police for his involvement in various blasts in the country.

The reason and motive for the killing is currently being investigated by the police.

PTI