Mumbai: Police are on a look out for two Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists and a key member of Ahal-e- Hadees militant outfit, who reportedly masterminded the Ghatkopar blast on July 28, even as some persons were picked up for questioning in this case, a top police officer said.

The alleged masterminds behind the attack were reportedly associates of Dr Jalis Ansari, who is already serving a jail sentence for causing 65 explosions in the city.

The LeT terrorists provided the funds while the third one arranged for training youths in using arms for the blasts. They are not traceable and police have launched a manhunt to nab them. Two of the suspected terrorists have been identified as Nisar Ahmed and Abdul Rehman.

Police would also interrogate Dr Jalis Ansari and Saquib Nachan, who are in custody for their alleged complicity in the bomb blasts.

Crime branch police sources said that some persons had been picked up for questioning but no arrest had been made.

Dr Ansari has been convicted for several blasts in 1993, while Nachan, former Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) secretary, is facing the charge of causing blasts in Mulund, Vile Parle, Ghatkopar and Mumbai Central.

After the ban on SIMI, its activists regrouped themselves under terrorist organisations such as Lashkar- e-Toiba and Ahal-e-Hadees to carry out blasts in Mumbai.

Most of the accused arrested in Mulund, Vile Parle and Mumbai Central bomb blasts, including Saquib Nachan, hail from Padgah and Borivili villages in nearby Thane district.

Police have noted a pattern of similarity in the bomb blast at Ghatkopar on July 28 and four other explosions that occurred since December 2002.

The four earlier blasts were allegedly masterminded by SIMI activities, who are facing the trial. The police are also working on the theory that in the July 28 blast, SIMI activists could be involved.

The recent Ghatkopar blast was a powerful one, as the culprits had used gelatine sticks containing nitro- glycerine, nitrocellulose and ammonium nitrate used for blasting rocks.

Police have already filed chargesheet against 15 accused in Mulund, Vile Parle and Mumbai Central blasts last week. They are charged under Prevention of Terrorist Act (POTA) with offences including waging war against the nation and participating in a conspiracy to create a series of explosions.

Altogether, five explosions have occurred in Mumbai since December 2002, claiming 16 lives and leaving more than 100 injured.

PTI