IM opened 'dead' communication line day before blast

Investigators have pieced together certain vital links in their effort to find new faces of Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives who executed the serial blasts on July 13.

Investigators have pieced together certain vital links in their effort to find new faces of Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives who executed the serial blasts on July 13.

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The agencies are probing into a vital communication record that they had intercepted in February and once again a day before the Mumbai blasts.

Hindustan Times, on July 14, had first reported that an intercepted communication between a handler and an IM operative, as early as February this year, had indicated of a possible terrorist strike in July.

Investigators have now found that the communication line came alive a day before the blast.

The communiqué in February from the handler had warned the IM operative against the use of any old member associated with the terrorist group.

According to police sources, the communication made from a United Arab Emirate (UAE) state went dead. But on the night of July 12, the line went alive again and certain communication was made with the operative. The operative location, police sources said, was in Mumbai.

The contents of the conversation were not made available as it was being analysed and could hamper investigations. However, police sources said the operatives, who had identified Zaveri Bazaar, Opera House and Kabutharkhana in Dadar as targets, moved out early on the morning of July 13 to conduct reconnaissance between 9am and 11am.

The operatives then assembled at their safe house before setting off to plant the explosives.

Police sources said the explosive was planted approximately 30 minutes before the blast and specific caution was taken to ensure that rains did not hamper its effectiveness.