Author: Akela
Publication: Mumbai Mirror
Date: May 21, 2008
URL: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article§id=15&contentid=20080521200805210218488850b2378c
Introduction: Abbas Mohd Sameeza who had offloaded
arms on the Gujarat coastline held from Andheri
The special court hearing the 1993 serial
blasts case has given its verdict after what came to be known as 'the world's
longest terrorism trial,' a book has been written on the explosions and a
film too screened in theatres across India.
Yet, all is clearly not over for the Mumbai
police in the case. On Tuesday, 15 years after the blasts, the crime branch
arrested one of the accused, Abbas Mohammad Sameeza (50), who had been on
the run for the last 15 years.
Sameeza, a Jamnagar resident and one of 26
accused declared absconding, had offloaded a consignment of arms and ammunition
meant for the blasts at Bharuch in Gujarat in January 1993. He was part of
the team led by Abu Salem, police officials said.
Joint commissioner of police Rakesh Maria
confirmed the arrest. "He was involved in the blasts and is believed
to be close to underworld don Dawood," Maria said.
Though cops refused to reveal how they finalled
zeroed in on Sameeza, they said he was held from Andheri, where he was staying
with his Maharashtrian wife.
Sameeza apparently spent some time in Gujarat
when he was on the run and settled down in Mumbai later. Here, he sported
a clean-shaven look to avoid being caught.
"As soon as he landed in Mumbai, he befriended
a Maharashtrian woman, Asha, and later married her and began staying with
her in Saki Naka," Maria added.
Police have recovered a US-made revolver from
him, which they suspect is part of the same consignment he had offloaded.
Sameeza was booked under TADA in Gujarat,
and cases against him were also registered under the Indian Penal Code at
the Kalyanpur police station and the Saliya police station.
He will be produced before the Mumbai metropolitan
magistrate court on Wednesday and handed over to Gujarat police.
