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Meetings, plans for blasts began in July |
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By: Ketan Ranga |
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Date:
2008-09-27 |
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Place: Mumbai |
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SEPT 13, 2008: One of the five serial bomb blasts site in New Delhi. FILE PIC | The preparation for the Ahmedabad and Delhi blasts began in full swing in July. After the blasts in Jaipur on May 13, members of the Indian Mujahideen and SIMI held meetings, and explained the modus operandi to all its members. The arrests of several terrorists prevented similar blasts in Mumbai.
It is learnt that those arrested for their involvement in the blasts started leaving their residence in July. The cars used for the blasts were also stolen in the same month from Navi Mumbai. Explosives for the blasts were brought from Karnataka in July as well.
How it began
Afzal Usmani met Riyaz Bhatkal, the mastermind behind the blasts, and decided to steal cars from Navi Mumbai and take them to Gujarat. A black and silver Wagon R were stolen on July 9 and taken to Surat the next day. Two other cars were stolen on July 15 and driven to Ahmedabad. These cars were used for blasts at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital and the market place.
Meanwhile, those involved in the Delhi encounter last week, Sajid Ansaar, Mohammad Saif, Mohammad Arif, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Sajid, Mohammad Khaleed from Sanjerpur and Saraimeer village of Azamgarh, left their homes in July. Acting on instructions passed by their chief, Sadiq Shaikh, Mohammad Arif, Afzal Usmani, Ahmed Zakir Sheikh and Sheikh Mohammed Ansar began their movements in the same month. They were arrested in Mumbai for their role in the blasts a few days back.
Now explosives
In July, Indian Mujahideen sent its workers to Karnataka to get explosives to be used for the blasts. Rakesh Maria, joint commissioner of police, crime, said that the explosives landed in Mumbai in the same month. Explosives found with those arrested in Mumbai and explosives used in the Ahmedabad and Delhi blasts were all brought from Karnataka. |
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