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Church blasts accused desecrated Ambedkar statues

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today said the four accused arrested in connection with the recent blasts in churches were also involved in desecration of Dr B R Ambedkar's statues in 1996-97.

Addressing a press conference here, the chief minister said two accused - Syed Iqbal and Nazamuddin - during their interrogation revealed that they had desecrated several statues of Dr Ambedkar at Purnandapet, Machavaram and several other towns in Krishna district in 1996-97.

Syed Iqbal, a small-time roads and building contractor, is believed to be the mastermind behind the gang.

Investigations reveal that there are several active members of Deendar Anjuman, both in Hyderabad and some coastal districts of AP, as well as in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Of the other two accused now in AP police's custody, Ibrahim (arrested in Bangalore) was involved in bomb explosions in Bangalore and Goa, while Meeran Saheb was responsible for carrying out blasts in a church at Wadi.

Zakir, who died along with Siddique when a bomb went off in a Maruti van in Bangalore, had planted a bomb in a church at Hubli.

The chief minister said police arrested Syed Iqbal and Nazamuddin during a road checking at Nallajarla near Eluru town in West Godavari district in the early hours of Monday. A search of their scooter led to the discovery of gelatine sticks, torch cells, detonators, parts of a clock etc.

Iqbal and Nazamuddin led the police to the house of Syed Abdul Khader Jeelani in Nuzvid, where two more members of this group -- Shaikh Khaja Moinuddin and Mohammed Humayun Khan - were arrested.

Shaikh Khaja Moinuddin and Mohammed Humayun Khan were involved in the Ongole church blast.

Some explosives, batteries and literature pertaining to Deendar Anjuman was seized from Jeelani's house.

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Four Deendar activists held, reveal blasts conspiracy

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