Muslim Militants Arrested in Delhi Suspected of Planning Terror Attacks

Three Muslim militants have been arrested by police in Delhi on suspicion of planning attacks during a major Hindu festival season.

Asad Khan, 33, Imran Khan, 31 and Syed Feeroze, 38, were arrested for allegedly planning to carry out strikes during the Dusehra and Diwali festivals.

They were arrested after one of the suspected perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Syed Zabiuddin Ansari, led police to them while being questioned.

Explosives, detonators, batteries and nails used to make bombs were recovered from the suspects by police during their investigation.

According to the Mumbai-based publication Daily News & Analysis, the three men will be remanded in police custody until 17 October.

Mujahideen links

The three militants were allegedly directed by Fayaz Ahmed Qagzi, Iqbal Bhatkal and his brother Riyaz. They were aided by Raju Bhai.

Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar said: "It was the Bhatkals who asked one Raju Bhai to arrange hideouts for the trio. Later, on the instructions of Iqbal and Riyaz Bhatkal, they came to Delhi for causing blasts."

All three suspects are members of the Indian branch of the militant group Mujahideen according to Kumar, who added that they were responsible for a number of small explosions that took place in August, including a blast in the city of Pune which left one person injured.

India's Mujahideen is said to have links with Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has claimed responsibility for other terrorist attacks in India and was accused of the Mumbai bombings of 2008.

Ansari is thought to have been linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and is suspected of having orchestrated the Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people.