Mumbai: More than six months after three bombs killed 27 people and injured 137 others in Mumbai, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) announced on Monday that it had cracked the case. Two arrests have been made, while a third is expected in a few days. However, in a major disappointment, these arrests are only of the facilitators.
The three major conspirators, mastermind Yasin Bhatkal and two bomb planters, have remained wanted accused and are on the run. Those arrested are Naqi Ahmed, 22, and Nadeem Akhtar, 23, both originally from Darbhanga district in Bihar.
ATS chief Rakesh Maria said the 13/7 blasts – at Zaveri Bazar, Opera House and Dadar – were the handiwork of the outlawed outfit, Indian Mujahideen (IM).
Police said Rs 10 lakh was sent to India via Dubai and Nepal and it was used to fund the 13/7, Delhi high court and Pune German Bakery blasts. In addition, the 13/7 conspirators also used fake currency to purchase cell phones and SIM cards.
After the ATS held a press conference in Mumbai to say it had cracked the case, some TV channels said the Union home ministry was baffled by the ATS announcement and was upset it hadn’t been informed about the developments. There were also reports that the home ministry said the cops were trying to cover up a recent bungle. However, home ministry sources denied these claims. Mumbai blast accused were already in custody
Both Naqi and Nadeem were already in custody in a SIM card forgery case. A third man in custody, Mumbra resident Haroon Naik, 33, is expected to be arrested in the 13/7 case in a few days. Naik is in custody in a fake currency case and has been at Arthur Road jail since July 2011. “These accused facilitated, aided and abetted the July 13 blasts. We will take Naik into custody soon,” said ATS chief Rakesh Maria during the press briefing.
Police teams have been dispatched to various places to trace the wanted accused. Aside from IM founding member Bhatkal, the police showed the other two absconders as simply accused A and B. However, sources said they are Waqqas and Tabrez, the two Pakistani nationals who both the Delhi police and Mumbai ATS were tracking at Habib Apartments, Byculla, recently. Due to an alleged turf battle between the two police teams, which the ATS has denied, the three men reportedly escaped. All the accused have been charged with murder, attempt to murder, and crimes under the Explosives Act.
“Naqi had come to Mumbai in September-October of 2010 and was in the Mandanpura area,” said Maria. “He later assisted Bhatkal in doing recces of the targeted sites. Naqi and Nadeem are the ones who stole the two scooters in which bombs were planted to go off at Opera House and Zaveri Bazaar,” said Maria. He added that while one scooter was stolen from Khetwadi near CP tank, another was stolen from outside the Hurkisondas Hospital in south Mumbai. Police said Naqi and Nadeem also ferried timers, explosives to Mumbai for the blasts. They said Bhatkal visited Mumbai in June and July, but later never returned to the Byculla residence of his accomplices.
The three major conspirators, mastermind Yasin Bhatkal and two bomb planters, have remained wanted accused and are on the run. Those arrested are Naqi Ahmed, 22, and Nadeem Akhtar, 23, both originally from Darbhanga district in Bihar.
ATS chief Rakesh Maria said the 13/7 blasts – at Zaveri Bazar, Opera House and Dadar – were the handiwork of the outlawed outfit, Indian Mujahideen (IM).
Police said Rs 10 lakh was sent to India via Dubai and Nepal and it was used to fund the 13/7, Delhi high court and Pune German Bakery blasts. In addition, the 13/7 conspirators also used fake currency to purchase cell phones and SIM cards.
After the ATS held a press conference in Mumbai to say it had cracked the case, some TV channels said the Union home ministry was baffled by the ATS announcement and was upset it hadn’t been informed about the developments. There were also reports that the home ministry said the cops were trying to cover up a recent bungle. However, home ministry sources denied these claims. Mumbai blast accused were already in custody
Both Naqi and Nadeem were already in custody in a SIM card forgery case. A third man in custody, Mumbra resident Haroon Naik, 33, is expected to be arrested in the 13/7 case in a few days. Naik is in custody in a fake currency case and has been at Arthur Road jail since July 2011. “These accused facilitated, aided and abetted the July 13 blasts. We will take Naik into custody soon,” said ATS chief Rakesh Maria during the press briefing.
Police teams have been dispatched to various places to trace the wanted accused. Aside from IM founding member Bhatkal, the police showed the other two absconders as simply accused A and B. However, sources said they are Waqqas and Tabrez, the two Pakistani nationals who both the Delhi police and Mumbai ATS were tracking at Habib Apartments, Byculla, recently. Due to an alleged turf battle between the two police teams, which the ATS has denied, the three men reportedly escaped. All the accused have been charged with murder, attempt to murder, and crimes under the Explosives Act.
“Naqi had come to Mumbai in September-October of 2010 and was in the Mandanpura area,” said Maria. “He later assisted Bhatkal in doing recces of the targeted sites. Naqi and Nadeem are the ones who stole the two scooters in which bombs were planted to go off at Opera House and Zaveri Bazaar,” said Maria. He added that while one scooter was stolen from Khetwadi near CP tank, another was stolen from outside the Hurkisondas Hospital in south Mumbai. Police said Naqi and Nadeem also ferried timers, explosives to Mumbai for the blasts. They said Bhatkal visited Mumbai in June and July, but later never returned to the Byculla residence of his accomplices.
No comments:
Post a Comment