Front Page   

Twin blasts `mastermind' shot dead

By Arunkumar Bhatt

MUMBAI Sept. 12. The Mumbai police today shot dead Nasir, a suspected operative of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and mastermind of the August 25 twin blasts, in an encounter in the central suburb of Matunga tonight.

Nasir had formed and operated a module of four others to set off serial blasts in the metropolis. Police sources said Nasir and an accomplice were shot near Ruparel College around 10.15 p.m. by a squad of Crime Branch sleuths shadowing their car, a Delhi registered Maruti 800.

Police said the duo opened fire when challenged and were gunned down in a shootout with the sleuths. Nasir and his unidentified accomplice were taken to a nearby hospital where they were declared dead. The sources said the car was laden with a huge quantity of explosives and detonators, besides a cache of arms and ammunition. The types of explosives were yet to be determined as the police were waiting for the arrival of the bomb disposal squad.

Police had been on the trail of Nasir for the past several days. Only a few days ago, the Joint Police Commissioner (Crime), Satya Pal Singh, had told reporters to be patient for a few more days , indicating that a major breakthrough in the second phase of the investigation was round the corner. The cops were, perhaps, waiting for the Ganesh festival to be over before they closed in.

Nasir had started the Gujarat Muslim Revenge Force and recruited Syed Mohammed Hanif, 42, his wife Fahmida, 36, and daughter Farheen, 18 who planted a powerful bomb in a taxi in which they had travelled from a suburb to the Gateway of India.

Another recruit, Ashrat Ansari, had planted the bomb in a taxi at Jhaveri Bazar. The twin blasts claimed 53 lives and maimed scores.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Reflecting on the past
• Quit if you cannot prosecute guilty, SC tells Modi Govt.
• PM to inaugurate celebrations
• Twin blasts `mastermind' shot dead
• `No talks now on Singapore issues'
• No national alliance with Cong: Mulayam
• Official removed
• Joint military exercise
• Ruling deferred
• Guards killed

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu