Amanullah was the `amir' (head) of the suicide squad which had set out, with ``belt and throw-type'' bombs, from a `kabristan' (burial site) of 18 persons killed in the communal riots which had taken place in November-December last year.

He had been armed with a ``belt bomb'' meant to blow up the dais from which Advani was to address the meeting at R S Puram here.

Amanulllah could not penetrate the security cordon and reach the dais and the meeting itself was cancelled in the wake of the serial blasts which had rocked the city minutes before Advani was to address the meeting. Over 60 persons had been killed in theblasts and more than 250 injured.

Amanullah was the lone member of the suicide squad who had managed to evade the police dragnet. Four other members were arrested by the police, while two others were killed in the serial blasts. The Tamil Nadu government had announced a reward of Rs two lakh for anyone giving information leading to his arrest.

With today's arrest, the total number of militants secured for their involvement in the blasts rose to 177. Only 10 more militants were yet to be nabbed.