The Hindu : Front Page : Indian Mujahideen wanted bases in Maharashtra

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Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009
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Indian Mujahideen wanted bases in Maharashtra

Rahi Gaikwad

Charge sheet filed against 21 members for various blasts

Masterminds still at large
IM’s media cell conducted recces of places

— Photos: PTI/ Shashank Parade

SERIOUS CHARGES: Some of the 21 Indian Mujahideen men, accused in various serial bomb blast cases, being taken to the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Mumbai: The terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM), with its network spanning the length and breadth of the country and abroad, wanted to set up its bases in Maharashtra, according to a charge sheet filed on Tuesday.

The Mumbai Crime Branch filed the 1,809-page charge sheet against 21 members of the IM, who engineered blasts across the country since 2005. Its masterminds, however, are still at large.

The charge sheet states: “The Indian Mujahideen wanted to have bases in Mumbai and Maharashtra and therefore hired premises (in Sewree Cross Lane, Mumbai) and in Ashoka Mews and Kamaldeep Apartment at Kondhwa (Khurd) in Pune. Regular meetings were held at these premises for planning and carrying out terrorist operations and to harbour their members.”

The IM, an offshoot of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), was responsible for blasts in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jaipur, Surat and Hyderabad.

The IM’s media cell, which conducted recces of places, hacked Wi-Fi networks in the city and sent threatening emails under its banner and from the email id ‘ alarbi.alhindi@gmail.com’ before and after the blasts. The cell had its headquarters in Pune.

Six persons are wanted in the case, including the masterminds Riyaz Bhatkal alias Roshan Khan alias Aziz alias Ahmadbhai; his brother Iqbal Bhatkal alias Mohammadbhai; and Amir Raza, the head of the Indian Mujahideen.

The charge sheet states that Raza was assisted by SIMI and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

He formed the Sahabbuddin Brigade for strikes in the South, Mohammad Gajnavi brigade for strikes in the North, Shaheed-al-Zarkavi brigade for strikes on VVIPs and media groups.

Riyaz gave the orders to the members while Iqbal played a key role in indoctrination. Non-bailable warrants have been obtained for 13 “militants.”

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