Delhi bombers to be quizzed

Security agencies are all set to re-interrogate the alleged 12 bombers, members of the home-grown terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM), who were arrested after the Delhi serial blasts in September 2008. The security agencies are trying to get clues into Saturday’s Pune bomb blast, reports Vijaita Singh.

Security agencies are all set to re-interrogate the alleged 12 bombers, members of the home-grown terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM), who were arrested after the Delhi serial blasts in September 2008. The security agencies are trying to get clues into Saturday’s Pune bomb blast.

HT Image

The Paharganj hotels, frequented by foreign tourists have been given fresh instructions to be “alert.” The security around Chabad House in Paharganj has also been stepped up.

On Monday, officers of Maharashtra ATS reached Delhi to interrogate Shahzad Ahmed presently in the Special Cell’s custody. Shahzad was arrested on February 2 from Azamgarh by the UP police.

During his interrogation, Shahzad is reported to have told his interrogators that youngsters are the IM’s primary targets. Delhi IIT and areas around Delhi University are also likely to be targeted.

Police sources said one of the main accused—Mohammad Saif—arrested from Batla House on September 19, 2008, after the encounter—had “fair details” of the IM’s operations.

A module of 30 IM men had carried out the serial blasts in Delhi. Of these 30, 15 are still missing. Five of these bombers were arrested from Delhi and seven from Maharashtra.

Some of them are reported to have been trained in Pakistan. Atif Ameen—the group’s leader was killed in the Batla House encounter.

The terrorist outfit, comprising young educated men—one of them Mansoor Asghar Peerbhoy who is a software engineer—is headed by Amir Reza Khan, presently in Pakistan.

“At least five IM members involved in the Delhi blasts are lodged in Tihar Jail. One of them, Mohammad Saif, though not the group’s key person, had a fair knowledge of its working. He told us that the IM was divided in four wings. We will question him again to know if he was aware of the Pune bomb blasts,” said a senior police officer.

Saif told the police that IM got logistic support from Harkat-ul-Jihad-Islami (HuJI) and the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The IM carried out several attacks in Ahmedabad, Jaipur and UP court blasts as well.

Saif told the police that there were four wings of the IM—Sahabuddin Brigade for strikes in the south, Mohammad Gaznavi Brigade for strikes in the north, Shaheed Al Zarkavi brigade for strikes on VVIP’s, media group responsible for sending e-mails before blasts to electronic and print media.