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Key 26/11 suspect arrested at Mangalore airport

Last updated on: May 24, 2010 14:10 IST

The Mangalore police has arrested a key suspect in the 26\11 terror attacks case at the Bajpe airport in Mangalore airport on Monday.

Abdul Sammad Bhatkal is beleived to be a conspirator in the attack, police sources told rediff.com.

The police has handed over Bhatkal to the Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad, which investigating the 26/11 case.

Mangalore police officials said Bhatkal had flown into the city from Dubai.

A lookout notice had been issued against him one year ago and the police had been making a desperate attempt to track him.

The police said Bhatkal had been in Pakistan at the time of the attacks and had been involved in the planning process.

He is also suspected to be a relative of Riyaz Bhatkal, the founder of the India-based terror outfit Indian Mujahideen.

The ATS will also probe Bhatkal's role in the Mumbai train blasts that killed 186 in 2006. The 7/11 blasts trial will resume on Monday.

The police said Bhatkal moved into Dubai from Pakistan after the attacks, and must have been on his way to his hometown Bhatkal, Karnataka.
Vicky Nanjappa