Alleged mastermind of twin Landhi blasts nabbed, claims CID

CID claims the suspect is affiliated with a TTP linked group and recovered two suicide vests from his possession.

KARACHI: The Anti-Extremist Cell of the Crime Investigation Department on Monday claimed to have arrested the alleged mastermind of Landhi’s twin blasts that killed two police officers.

The accused was identified as Asad aka Bhai Jan aka Rafiullah, son of Usman Zada. According to AEC officials, he was arrested after officials received a tip-off and conducted a raid in Ittehad Town area of Baldia. His companions though managed to flee under the cover of gun fire.

Speaking at a press conference, AEC chief SSP Chaudhry Aslam Khan claimed to have recovered two suicide jackets, two hand grenades and a pistol from the possession of the accused.

SSP Khan, while quoting an initial investigation report, informed media that the accused allegedly admitted to working for the Fazalullah group, associated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Khan added that the accused was also the mastermind behind the twin blasts in Landhi area that claimed three lives including DSP Kamal Khan Mangan and ASI Akbar on January 24.

The AEC chief said that besides bomb blasts, the accused also allegedly admitted to have killed two female polio workers, Fehmida and Madiha in Landhi’s Gulshan-e-Bunair locality on December 18, 2012.

Khan said that the accused were also involved in the target killings of two police constables, Rizwan and Naeem in Banaras area along with an attempt to rob the Government Post Office cash van.

The AEC chief said that the accused was an expert at bomb making, and that he and his group members were planning to disrupt the upcoming election by carrying out the bomb blasts and other terror activities during polling.