The agencies are also investigating if he was trying to initiate SIMI activities there and if any terror strike was being plotted or was there a plan to use the area as a safe haven for other criminals from Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat,' said a police official who requested anonymity.

Madhya Pradesh ATS chief Pawan Shrivastava said: 'The interrogations are still on.'

Himachal Pradesh police have got 12-day custody of Qureshi. During interrogation, he allegedly admitted that he was given a contract to kill three people for Rs.25,000 each.

Qureshi, a 25-year-old from Ujjain, had been arrested for his alleged involvement in anti-national activities and has spent five months in a Gujarat jail. The Madhya Pradesh police have confirmed his links with the outlawed SIMI.