Author: Medha Chaturvedi
Publication: The Times of India
Date: September 22, 2008
Introduction: Shakeel Had Ice-Cream Before
Planting Bomb in Delhi
Mohammed Shakeel, who had allegedly planted
the bomb at Ghaffar Market on September 13, was running ahead of "schedule''
on that fateful Saturday. So, investigators claim, he decided to stop at India
Gate, go for a stroll and have an ice-cream. Only when the driver of the autorickshaw
Shakeel had hired said that he could not wait any longer, did the bomber resume
the journey.
Such nonchalance, just before engineering
mayhem that left 11 dead, was the hallmark of the Indian Mujahideen module
that is believed to have been behind the Delhi blasts, say sleuths. These
bombers were educated-there was a gold medalist in economics, several engineering
diploma holders and a student of Class XI-yet there was a macabre sense of
achievement they derived out of their deadly passion. They would not just
play harbingers of death but also compare tolls much like hunters comparing
kills, claim police officials carrying out the probe.
Said DCP H G S Dhaliwal, "After having
caused the blasts, they would come back home and watch TV, saying things like
tere to bas do hi hai mere dus hai. If a bomb planted by one of them got defused,
the person would become the target of ridicule for the rest.'' On being asked
what motivated them, Dhaliwal talked about the "bundles of currency notes''
that they would see Atiq handling. Dhaliwal says death gave these terrorists
a high-Atiq would often take pictures of the commotion following a blast from
a distance of 30m. Some of these visuals had been saved in their computer
in the same way as a sportsman would display his trophies. These visuals are
now key evidence in the police probe.
Also found in the same computer were pictures
of the slain Sajid and the arrested Saif with bold captions like "most
wanted'. These visuals, shown to journalists by joint CP Karnal Singh, gave
a chilling indication of the ambitions of these otherwise normal youngsters
with academic careers that, at least in the case of Saquib Nisar who had won
a gold medal in economics from Jamia Millia Islamia University, was way above
average.
Says K P S Gill, expert on terrorism related
issues, "Influx of educated people into terror activities was rampant
when Naxalism first appeared in India. The Naxal cadre was drawn from the
best colleges in the country.
The same phenomenon seems to be repeating
itself in a different context.'' Many experts said outfits like SIMI would
often go scouting for "talent''. "They go to various parts of the
country propagating their hate agenda and exhorting students and professionals
to join terror activities,'' said an officer.
