Thursday, July 13 2006 13:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has detained at least 200 persons, most of them SIMI activists, in Mumbai and various parts of Maharashtra for questioning in connection with the Tuesday's serial bomb blasts in trains, police said today (July 13, 2006).

In an overnight drive by city police, railway stations, lodges and hotels were searched and suspected activists of Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) rounded up from their homes, sources said adding that the detained persons would be interrogated to collect clues regarding the blasts.

"Meanwhile, four persons were arrested at Bhayander railway station in neighbouring Thane district this morning when alert citizens allegedly found them dumping suspicious-looking leather bags in the creek near the railway station, police said. The leather bags were being extracted and its contents being checked," they said.

ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi told sources that several persons have been rounded up yesterday night, but no one has been arrested yet.

"It is a routine procedure of investigation and the detained will be interrogated in connection with the blasts," Raghuvanshi added.

Sources in DGP's office said that similar searches were conducted at hotels and lodges and SIMI activists rounded up in various parts of Marathwada and Konkan regions, traditional SIMI strongholds.

Over 200 persons died in seven blasts that ripped off first class compartment of western railway suburban trains on Tuesday evening, leaving more that 750 injured. Police suspect that the bombs were placed in leather bags and kept in luggage racks, and went off in a span of 20 minutes.