'Delhi HC blast accused was influenced by Osama'

Wasim Akram Malik, the MBBS student whom National Investigation Agency has dubbed as one of the main orchestrators of Delhi high court bomb blast, was allegedly influenced by dead al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden who gave up a lavish life-style for a life full of hardships and austerity for a "Muslim cause".

Wasim Akram Malik, the MBBS student whom National Investigation Agency has dubbed as one of the main orchestrators of Delhi high court bomb blast, was allegedly influenced by dead al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden who gave up a lavish life-style for a life full of hardships and austerity for a "Muslim cause".

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According to a statement issued by the NIA, Malik came close to terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and his Pakistani terrorist associates while he was studying in Jammu.

"Wasim always had strong feelings against the perceived discrimination against the Muslims. He took to reading Jihadi literature and books on problems of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Wasim also read books and texts on internet on the al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden (now killed) and Taliban's spiritual leader Omar Mullah Mohammad," NIA alleged.

The agency which filed its charge sheet in the blast case on Tuesday said Malik found Osama and Omar's "immense contribution" to be very impressive as they had "sacrificed their lavish lifestyle for a Muslim cause" and spent the entire life full of hardship and austerity.

The NIA said he also read a lot about Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor and current leader of Al-Qaeda.

"Being a doctor himself, Wasim identified with him and 'eulogized his contribution towards Jihad'", NIA alleged.

It claimed Malik believed in Jihad which if done with dedication shall definitely bring about a change in the lives of Kashmiri population.

According to the agency, Malik allegedly entered India in June end, last year and did a reconnaissance of the Delhi High Court area after which he chose gate number five as his target as there was no parking area around it and IED attack could cause maximum fatal causalities.