MUMBAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday stuck to its stand that the 2006 Malegaon blasts were not the handiwork of the nine Muslim youngsters who were initially arrested in the case, and persons associated with Hindu radical groups were responsible for it.The NIA clarified its stand while opposing the bail applications filed in the Bombay high court by four accused allegedly belonging to Hindu radical groups, Manor Singh, Rajendra Chaudhary, Dhan Singh and Lokesh Sharma.NIA rejected the allegation that it had conducted investigations in a “predetermined and calculated manner” to negate the probe initially undertaken by the state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) and the CBI. In its affidavit, the NIA said the four accused had entered into a conspiracy between January and September 2006 to set off the blasts in the Muslim-dominated areas to trigger communal riots between the two communities. The NIA also pointed out that Mohammed Zahid Ansari, who was accused by ATS of planting the bomb, was in Yavatmal, around 400 km away from Malegaon, on the day of the blasts.Three bombs, planted on cycles had exploded at a cemetery, while the fourth went off at Mushawerat chowk on September 8, 2006. The bombings killed 31 people and left 312 others injured. The state ATS arrested the nine Muslim youths, alleging that they were members of the the banned Students Islamic Movement of India The probe was subsequently handed over to the NIA. It arrested the quartet based on a confession by Swami Aseemanand, a member of right-wing group Abhinav Bharat arrested in another case, that the blasts were carried out by "his boys". A special court had, on April 26, discharged Noorul Huda, Raees Ahmed, Salman Farsi, Farogh Magdumi, Shaikh Mohammed Ali, Asif Khan, Mohammed Zahid Ansari and Abrar Ahmed. The ninth accused had died during the pendency of the case.Along with the bail applications, the HC is also hearing application filed by the Maharashtra government seeking to challenge a special court's decision to discharge the eight Muslim men. The government has claimed there is evidence that pointed to the role the Muslim youth. It has referred to the evidence collected by the ATS, on the basis of which the youth were charged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. The hearing has been adjourned to January 2017.