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Varanasi blast has Azamgarh link

Varanasi blast has Azamgarh link

Author: Preetam Srivastava
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: December 9, 2010
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/302407/Varanasi-blast-has-Azamgarh-link.html

Preliminary findings in the Tuesday's Varanasi blast that claimed the life of a baby girl and left 35 seriously injured, suggest that the conspiracy was hatched in the Middle East and probably executed by some local module in Azamgarh. The names of Bhatkal brothers, Riaz and Iqbal, who founded the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM), has also cropped up as possible mastermind behind the blast.

The Azamgarh connection behind the conspiracy has alerted the probe agencies about revival of the terror outfits which have carried out similar explosions in other parts of the country in the past.

The sleuths are waiting for the forensic report from State-run laboratory in Agra but the police is clueless about the explosive used in the blast, and more importantly, how it was detonated.

The police suspect use of a new technology to trigger the blast. "This could be a trail carried out at a smaller scale and this method could be replicated in future," police sources said.

``Not a single object like IED, electronic circuit, battery, detonator, etc. was recovered from the site. These could help us to get some lead to identify the group involved in the blast at Sheetla Ghat", said Additional Director General of Police Brij Lal.

He said that a team of Forensic Laboratory, Agra was rushed by air to the spot late on Tuesday night so that they could collect samples at the earliest and come to the conclusion about the nature of explosive used in the blast and how it was detonated.

"The Varanasi blast was hatched in the Middle East and probably executed by some local module in eastern Uttar Pradesh. But what has alarmed us is the new technique used in the blast this time round," said a senior officer associated with the probe.

"It seems that some new group from Eastern UP might have taken the job to create unrest under the directions from IM militants from Azamgarh," he said.

The Azamgarh connection surfaced in the blast after the IM claimed responsibility of this blast in an e-mail sent to media offices. Reports talk about involvement of militants of IM, especially Dr Shahnawaz, Sajjad, Shadab and Chota Sajid. Brij Lal said the present location of these militants was not in India. "We are working on these angles," he said.

Reports said the Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against Shahnawaz. He is a Bachelor of Unani Medicine and surgery and elder brother of Mohd Saif, who was arrested in Batla House encounter in New Delhi. Shahnawaz was allegedly involved in Delhi serial blasts.

Admitting that a proverbial `divine hand' prevented major casualty, Brij Lal said the bomb was placed under a rock, which bore the brunt of the blast and saved many human lives.

Denying any negligence on part of the law enforcing agencies, he said just at 5pm, one hour prior to famous Ganga Aarti, the police made anti-sabotage check on the entire area.

"The bomb was placed under rock so it could not be detected," he said.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police on Wednesday said it suspected that Bhatkal brothers Riaz and Iqbal, founders of terror outfit IM, masterminded the blast. City Police Commissioner Sanjeev Dayal also said the handlers of the outlawed organisation are sitting in Pakistan and running the "game".

"The analysis of the e-mail and signature on it indicates similarities with previous emails sent by IM. Preliminary probe indicates the role of IM in this (sending e-mail). Now, we, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai police, are probing to establish which IM module had hacked into the unsecured WiFi and sent the mail from Navi Mumbai. But definitely, main players (of IM) are sitting in Pakistan and running the game from there," the city police chief said.

Asked who are the main players he was referring to, the Commissioner replied "definitely Bhatkal brothers. They are suspected to be behind the Varanasi blast."

According to police, Riyaz and his brother Iqbal are founder-members of IM.

Dayal said several IM members were arrested in 2008 by Mumbai Crime Branch and some are shown as wanted.

"It is to be investigated if those wanted are involved in sending the e-mail or a new module is behind it. Before the IM was cracked in 2008, its members may have surveyed several areas looking for unsecured WiFis," the police chief said.

In 2008, the city police had arrested 21 alleged members of IM on the charge of hatching conspiracy to set off blasts in various cities, including Delhi, Bangalore and Surat.

The Commissioner said the terror e-mail was sent from a house in Navi Mumbai and the person to whom the WiFi belonged to is innocent.


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