Hyderabad blasts: Bhatkal's aide Asadullah produced in court by NIA

HYDERABAD: Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal's close aide Asadullah Akhtar was brought to the city today by NIA and produced before a local court in connection with the February 21 twin bomb blasts case here.

Akhtar was produced by National Investigation Agency officials amid heavy security in the court of First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge.

Mediapersons were asked to stay out of the court hall during the proceedings.

A Delhi court had on September 17 allowed the Hyderabad NIA unit's plea seeking permission to formally arrest Akhtar in connection with the twin blasts case and had sent him in two-day transit remand.

Seventeen people were killed and 100 others injured in the blasts that were triggered by powerful IEDs planted near Konark and Venkatadiri theatres in Dilsukhnagar on February 21, a crowded shopping area in the city.

After an initial probe by Andhra Pradesh police, the NIA had taken over the case.

Bhatkal and Asadullah, suspected of carrying out several blasts across the country, were arrested by security agencies on the Indo-Nepal border last month.