THE MAZE OF DISCREPANCIES

There were several discrepancies between ATS’ investigation into the July 11 blasts and Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Mohamed Sadiq Israr Shaikh’s confessions

PLOT AND EXECUTION

What the ATS found: Investigations found 18 Indians and 10 Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives had conspired to conduct the blasts. Indian associates of LeT operatives from Pakistan helped them enter the country through the borders of Kutch and from Nepal and Bangladesh. The operatives formed seven ‘buddy pairs’, each consisting of one Indian and Pakistani national, to plant the bombs in the suburban train.

What Sadiq revealed: After IM achieved their task of bombing the Varanasi railway station, Sadiq and Aatif Amin, the operational commander of IM, went back to their hideout at Saraimir in Uttar Pradesh. The plot was hatched at Saraimir.

PROCURING AND ASSEMBLING BOMBS

What the ATS found: Asif Khan Bashir Khan procured ammonium nitrate/nitrite, detonators, etc, while Sajid Margub Ansari got timer electric circuitry and other relevant device. Mohammed Faisal Ataur Rehman Shaikh, deemed to be the western India commander for LeT, used his car to transport the explosive to Govandi. Sajid and Sohail Shaikh, a Pakistani national, and an unknown Pakistani national assembled the explosives at Mohammed Ali’s Govandi house

What Sadiq revealed: Sadiq and operational commander of IM Aatif Amin had asked their Pakistan-based handler Amir Raza Khan to arrange for the explosives. The explosives were kept in flat that Abu Rashid, an absconding accused, rented out at Sewri.