Delhi serial blast case cracked, all terrorists from Azamgarh

Delhi serial blast case cracked: police

‘Delhi serial blast case cracked’

 IANS 20 Sep 2008 11:16:00 PM ISTNEW DELHI:  Exactly a week after five synchronized terror blasts rattled the national capital and killed 24 people, Delhi Police on Saturday said they had cracked the conspiracy behind this and three other terror attacks in the country.
“We have solved the Delhi blast case,” said Karnail Singh, joint commissioner of police (Special Cell).

Singh said a terrorist module of 13 people was responsible for the recent spate of terror attacks in India including the Uttar Pradesh court blasts of last year and the serial bombings in Jaipur, Ahmedabad and New Delhi this year.

He named the 13 members of the module as Atif, Saif, Zeeshan, Shajid, Junaid, Shadab Bhai, Alihas Malik, Shazid, Mohammad Khalif, Arif, Shakeel, Zia Khan and Salman.

All the members of the module were from Azamgarh village in Uttar Pradesh. “Atif lured his fellow and junior students from Azamgarh to terrorism,” the police official said.

Singh said the dreaded Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had been providing the training and support to the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Indian Mujahideen, which has claimed responsibility for the Ahmedabad and New Delhi attacks.

“When LeT’s terrorists were arrested, ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan) had a problem internationally. So their strategy was to train more and more people of Indian origin. So they approached the SIMI and Indian Mujahideen and coordinated with them.

“SIMI provided the money and execution support to the Indian Mujahideen,” he added.

The police said they had seized a laptop from the Jamia Nagar house, where two terrorists were gunned down after a fierce gun battle Friday morning, and found that they were inspired by Al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden.

“From whatever information we have got from the seized laptop, it’s clear that they were inspired by the philosophy of Al Qaeda. They were inspired by Osama bin Laden.

“We have sent the laptop for forensic analysis. Documents and photographs related to terror activities have been seized. We recovered the photos of Osama Bin Laden and software techie Tauqir’s photo from the laptop,” Singh added.

Mumbai-based Abdul Subhan Qureshi alias Tauqir has been alleged to have masterminded the Sep 13 serial blasts in the capital that killed 24 people and left nearly 100 injured. He has been absconding.

The police said the militants had brought the bombs from Karnataka before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

“Mohammed Saif and Sajid went to Karnataka and bought 10 bombs to Delhi by train two or three days before the start of Ramadan. But one bomb was detected to be faulty at the last moment and, therefore, was not planted,” Sing said in a press briefing.

He, however, said that one live bomb was yet to be recovered.

“They have thrown the faulty bomb in a drain near Batla House (in Jamia Nagar). Then there is a live bomb somewhere near the Regal cinema hall (in Connaught Place) but we haven’t recovered them so far,” said a senior police official.

Delhi Police had defused one bomb near the same cinema hall Sep 13.

“It was Atif (one of the two terrorists who were killed Friday) who used to send e-mails to various people including media organisations (about the Indian Mujahideen taking responsibility for the blasts). He was the main co-coordinator of sharing information amongst various organisations,” Singh added.

The police said they used to roam around the country on fake voter identity cards.

“Saif and Zeeshan had made fake voter ID cards in the name of Rahul Sharma and Pankaj respectively and travelled to Gujarat on the fake identities.

“They also availed mobile phone connections on the basis of these fake ID cards. We have seized mobile phones in which they have clicked the video of the Jaipur blasts,” Singh said.

Explaining the modus operandi of the module Singh said: “All of them travelled to Jaipur May 13 in a bus and bought cycles and planted the bombs on them.”

Then they started preparing for the Ahmedabad blasts. “Eleven to 12 people from Delhi went to Ahmedabad July 10 for a recce. Three to four stayed back and others returned to Delhi on July 17.

“All those who returned went to Ahmedabad on July 23, manufactured and planted bombs with the help of the local supporters, few of whom were arrested in Ahmedabad,” Singh said.

At least 65 people were killed in the serial blasts in Jaipur May 13, while 56 people were killed in the July 26 Ahmedabad blasts.

“In Delhi these terrorists went for a recce Sep 11 and clicked photos of the sites,” Singh added.

Five bombs went off in quick succession in the capital’s busy market places Sep 13, killing 24 people and injuring nearly 100 others.

Muslims attack Yogi carcade, 1 killed in clashes

Yogi carcade attacked in Azamgarh, 1 killed in clashes
Express News Service
Posted: Sep 08, 2008 at 0238 hrs IST

Lucknow, September 7 Exactly four days after Chief Minister Mayawati alerted the UP Police about possible moves to disturb religious harmony in the state before the next Lok Sabha elections, communal tension gripped eastern UP’s Azamgarh district following a clash between the supporters of Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath and residents of Azamgarh’s communally sensitive Takiya locality on Sunday afternoon.
While one person was killed, four persons were injured in the clashes. Section 144 of the CrPC has been imposed in the town after the incident. The police fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob which burnt a car passing by the area at the time. Two vehicles in Yogi’s carcade were also damaged.

Additional Director General of Police Brij Lal denied that the police had opened fire. He said the dead man was identified as Walliullah, a native of Mohammedabad in neighbouring Mau district. Azamgarh SSP V K Garg said the police had seized a country-made pistol and arrested 12 persons from the spot.

The trouble began when the carcade was passing through Takiya. The controversial MP, who runs an organisation called Hindu Yuva Vahini, was on his way to address a rally on terrorism at the DAV Degree College. “Yogi’s supporters shouted a slogan, Azamgarh mein rehna hai to Yogi-Yogi kehna hai (If you want to stay in Azamgarh, you will have to accept Yogi), which seems to have provoked some people,” a police source said.

Soon stones were thrown at the MP’s carcade. “Due to stone-pelting, some vehicles in the rear of the carcade were trapped in Takiya. Then there was an exchange of fire,” a police source said. Soon, the mob set afire a vehicle and damaged two others. The police team which arrived at the spot, too, became the target of the angry locals.

Later, addressing the rally, Adityanath demanded that the SP and DM arrive at the spot and listen to him. After the public meeting, the district administration ensured safe passage for the MP.

Senior officers, including IG (Varanasi) Pravin Singh, have been camping in the town. Five sections of the PAC have also been sent to Azamgarh. “The situation is under control. Forces have been deployed at sensitive places,” the IG said.

In Gorakhpur, BJP MLA Radha Mohan Das Agrawal, considered close to Yogi, started a dharna in front of the DM’s office to protest against the attack. The MLA said the Hindu Yuva Vahini had called for a bandh in eastern UP on Monday. “We want Z category security for Adityanath,” Agrawal said.