Police at the bomb blast site in Bangalore on December 28. Police at the bomb blast site in Bangalore on December 28.

Three suspected operatives of banned Indian Mujahideen (IM) were arrested on Thursday for their alleged role in the recent blast here that claimed the life of a woman.

The arrests were made during simultaneous raids conducted in the city and at Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada District, Bengaluru Police Commissioner M N Reddi told reporters here.

In Bhatkal, a substantial quantity of explosive materials, amonium nitrate as well as gelatin sticks along with a number of bomb making equipment were seized, he said.

Electronic circuit, digital circuit devices and detonators have also been seized, he said, adding, all these materials and equipment were used for making explosive devices. The seized material have been sent for forensic examination.

Reddi said during the raids, the suspected IM operatives Sayed Ismail Aafaque (34), Saddam Hussein (35) and Abdus Sabbuur (24), an MBA student, were picked up. All the three are residents of Bhatkal.

“All these persons are suspected to be members of banned IM and they were found to be in regular touch with other members of other banned organisations and IM,” he said.

Intial information showed that they were operating under the direct instructions of a handler in the higher rung within their organisation, he said.

To a query, he said, there was no “direct link” of the arrested trio to the December 28 blast on Church Street here that killed a woman and injured three others but their suspected role was being probed.

“Prima facie we do not see connection with the Church street blast. However nothing could be ruled out at this stage.The handler is based out of this country,” he said.

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