E-Paper
Forged in the heart of new India, terror’s unrecognisable face
Terrorists were “them”. Now, they are “us”: Young, educated, and angst ridden. How does an MBA student become a terror suspect? How do we stop the creation of another Indian Mujahideen? Hindustan Times explores the answers in this new series starting from today. Special Coverage
Long before they became famous as the Delhi bombers, the two young men in a faraway UP town were famous for their cuts and cover drives.
Atif Amin — killed last week in New Delhi and named on Wednesday by Mumbai Police as a top terror conspirator — spoke English, was cricket-crazy, computer-savvy and career-conscious.
Mohammed Saif was arrested for the September 13 bombings that killed 30 people. Saif was in the local cricket team along with Atif.
Seven of the 13 suspected bombers — including Amin and Saif — are from Sanjarpur outside Azamgarh, 19 and 23 years old.
The suspects were studying to become MBAs, computer engineers, chemists or doctors. One even had a marketing job.
If Atif and Amin are guilty, it is a chilling saga of how two young Muslims chasing dreams in the new India set out to destroy the very idea. The Indian Mujahideen is a story of how wrongs against Muslims — including the 2002 Gujarat riots and the Babri Masjid demolition — are still fuelling rage among “people like us”, and being made the justification for deadly acts of terrorism.
In a nine-part series of stories, Hindustan Times reporters across India document the new challenge — as well as stories of hope from the Muslim community.
