August 6: Dr Jalis Safiullah Ansari, who allegedly planted cylindrical bombs in 45 public places in the city and various other parts of the country between 1984 and 1993, was today produced for the first time before a designated TADA court here.

The designated judge remanded him to judicial custody till August 11. Ansari was arrested in 1993 and thereafter was taken by police to other places in the country to stand trial for indulging in terrorist activities. Ansari confessed before crime branch police that he had planted bombs in Shiv Sena offices at Kurla and Mulund, several police stations in Mumbai and Hyderabad as also in prestigious trains like Rajdhani Express (Kanpur), Rajdhani Express (Kota), AP express and Flying Ranee (Surat). He also revealed to have planted bombs at Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. Ansari said he was very upset with the riots that erupted in Bhivandi (1984), Meerut and Bhagalpur in which Muslims were killed in large numbers.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.