Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islami commander Mohammed Shahid alias Bilal, the alleged mastermind of the twin bomb blasts in Hyderabad, could have been involved in the attack on the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore nearly two years ago, a top police official said.

"Though we have not been able to confirm Bilal's role in the IISc attack, we have not completely ruled it out," Joint Commissioner of Police Gopal Hosur told PTI. "Bilal has been on our scanner since the IISc attack as he is one of the most wanted terrorists who is believed to be involved in many subversive activities.

"We have been collecting information on Bilal and are trying to find out if there are any links between the IISc attack and Bilal. However, we have not been able to confirm any such association. But we continue to peruse this angle along with other possible angles," he said.

Police in Bangalore are also hopeful of gathering some fresh leads in the probe into the IISc attack of December 2005 from their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh, who are currently investigating the twin blasts. "We are in constant touch with Andhra Pradesh Police. In case they should stumble on any fresh evidence, it would help us make progress in our investigation in the IISc case," he said.

"Whenever there is any fresh blast or any such activity we make efforts to find out if it has any links to the incident here. This is true not only with regard to blasts but any other crime."

Bangalore police had been exchanging notes with their counterparts in Hyderabad. "We are hopeful of some new inputs as an outcome of their investigation," Hosur said.