ATS tale, IM twist
9 YEARS The arrest of IM co-founder in 2008 had cast a cloud over ATS probe
Before the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court convicted 12 of the 13 accused on Friday, there had been a cloud on the investigations into the July 11, 2006, serial blasts in Mumbai suburban trains.
The Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) that had investigated, arrested the 13 accused and filed a charge sheet in the case on November 29, 2006, was in for a rude shock when Indian Mujahideen ( IM) co- founder Mohamed Sadiq Israr Shaikh told investigators in Mumbai and Gujarat the blasts were carried out by him and five other IM operatives.
Sadiq was among the 22 IM operatives who carried out blasts across the country since 2005, and was arrested by the Mumbai crime branch in September 2008. In his confession videotapes, made available to Hindustan Times, Sadiq revealed a simple plot to execute the blasts. His confession refuted the ATS’ longwinding plot that ran through the porous borders of India and claimed of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives’ association with their Indian counterparts to execute the blasts.
Sadiq said the planning for the Mumbai attack started soon after the blasts at Varanasi railway station. It was Aatif Amin, the operational commander of IM, who initiated the planning. Sadiq also said that he, along with Aatif, had planned to plant the bombs in the first class compartments of the Western Railway suburban trains.
He conveyed the plan to Dr Shahnawaz, the brother of Mohammed Saif, who was arrested in the Batla House encounter, and Abu Rashid, who used to live in Mumbai. Abu Rashid was asked to rent a flat. Accordingly, a flat was rented at Sewri, said Sadiq.
Aatif contacted Mohammed Sajid, who used to stay in Andheri, to join their plot. Sajid was also killed in the Batla House encounter. The duo then contacted Amir Raza to arrange for the explosives. Amir Raza ,through Riyaz Bhatkal, had arranged for nearly 35 to 37 kg of explosives that Aatif fetched from Mangalore.
The bombs were made at the rented Sewri flat, he said. Later, the group procured seven fivekg pressure cookers and bags to transport the bombs.
For a month, the group conducted recces to study and ascertain the movement of peak-hour traffic and escape routes. They also bought suburban train monthly passes, added Sadiq.
On July 11, 2006, five operatives went to Dadar suburban railway station from Sewri by taxi and boarded a train to Churchgate at around 4pm. The timers of the bombs were fixed at 6.30pm and they were activated at 2pm. Aatif and Dr Shahnawaz were given two bags each, while Sadiq, Abu Rashid and Sajid carried one bag each, added Sadiq.
With seven bombs to be placed, Sadiq volunteered to place three. Shahnawaz, Aatif, Sajid and Abu Rashid placed a bomb each and got down at Dadar.
In February 2009, the ATS took Sadiq’s custody from the Mumbai crime branch to question his involvement, but had discharged him. Advocates of the 13 accused then called Sadiq as a witness before the court, but he turned hostile stating his statement was recorded by police officials under duress.
Sadiq’s claim has also been substantiated by Yasin Bhatkal, the chief operational commander of IM. However, Yasin’s claim has not been substantiated.