The National Investigation Agency, while probing the serial blasts in Bodh Gaya, is taking a closer look at the Darbhanga module of the Indian Mujahideen.
The Darbhanga module is considered to be one of the most notorious branches of the IM.
Tracking terror operatives within the module, specially the foot soldiers, is a tough task for security agencies.
Many of these operatives may actually be illegal migrants who remain untouched due to vote-bank politics, fear investigators. The political patronage they enjoy ensures that the documents possessed by such operatives are not verified too often and their actual citizenship status remains unknown.
The Darbhanga module was set up by the terror outfit after its modules in Pune and Uttar Pradesh collapsed. Senior terror operatives including Asadullah Akthar were sent to the Gulf region to oversee the operations.
Riyaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, two of the most wanted terrorists in India currently hiding in Pakistan, were also expected to travel to Gulf.
But IM terrorist Abu Jundal was sent to Saudi Arabia to oversee the operations of the terror outfit from abroad while Yasin Bhatkal was made the chief of operations in Bihar.
The name of terror operative Fasih Mahmood has often cropped up in connection with the Darbhanga module.
Mahmood was allegedly involved in carrying out the Bangalore blasts and the Jama Masjid shooting, according to police. He has known the Bhatkal brothers since his college days.
Mahmood, who moved to Saudi Arabia after joining the IM, helped set up the Bihar module.
Meanwhile, Yasin roped in Mohammad Tariq Anjum Hassan, another terror operative, to help Mahmood. Mahmood, the founder of the Darbhanga module, was also in touch with Amir Reza Khan, an operative from West Bengal.
The Darbhanga module maintained a low-profile while the IM’s modules in Pune and Azamgarh remained more active. But police soon cracked down on the modules in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, forcing the terror outfit to delegate more activities to its Bihar module.
Mahmood was also in charge of garnering funds for the IM and recruiting new cadres.
The NIA is still trying to figure out the shadowy connections and dodgy links between local terror operatives and their international handlers.
An official involved with the investigation pointed out that red herrings were planted on the way to make the NIA team believe that the Gaya terror plan was masterminded by IM operatives based in Saudi Arabia.
But, adds the investigator, the involvement of Pakistan-based elements was beyond doubt.
Meanwhile, the NIA team at Bodh Gaya is struggling to find the motive behind the blasts. Till now, the only plausible explanation is that the IM was desperate to carry out a strike to prove that it is still a terror force to reckon with.
Darbhanga is only four hours away from Bodh Gaya, so the IM terrorists were well aware of the fact that even with low-intensity blasts, an attack at the internationally renowned site would attract tremendous attention. – Rediff.com, 9 July 2013
WANTED: Rehman brothers for Bodh Gaya blasts – Vicky Nanjappa
Investigators probing Sunday’s serial blasts at Bodh Gaya are hot on the trail of two brothers named Sahidur and Saifur Rehman.
Based on the closed circuit camera footage, the Bihar police has released sketches of the Rehman brothers.
The police and the National Investigation Agency have gathered some information on the duo based on Intelligence dossiers. Following an alert issued in 2011, the agencies have been on their trail and it was learnt through investigation that they were residing in Scotland and Saudi Arabia.
According to the investigators, Sahidur arrived in Bihar on May 6 from Scotland and joined a team of youth in Darabanga who were plotting the attack.
Saifur arrived in India on June 7 from Saudi Arabia.
Claiming that the duo was called in specifically for the Gaya operation, an investigator told rediff.com that the brothers had two plans in their mind.
“The first was to carry out a major attack in Patna. However, that plan fizzled out as there was not enough planning done to carry out an attack in Bihar’s capital. On the second target, Bodh Gaya, the team already had data available on the site.”
“During his two month stay, Sahidur is said to have surveyed the Mahabodhi several times along with his accomplices. The planning continued after Saifur’s arrival. Some local module members were also part of the planning. A day before the blast they did a dry run of the place. While planting the bombs, they were accompanied by several other persons.”
Intelligence Bureau officials say that the Rehman brothers have had links with the Indian Mujahideen. Saifur was in Saudi Arabia and was in touch with some of the operatives from the Darabanga module and this is how the information regarding him and his brother came out. Moreover, those interrogated by the Delhi Police had also mentioned Saifur.
Meanwhile, the agencies are also interrogating a person named Vinod whose identification card was found at the premises. The interrogation of detained Kolkata-based operative Anwar Mullick is also underway. – Rediff.com, 9 July 2013
Most wanted Indian Mujahideen terrorists – Vicky Nanjappa
Initial investigations into the Bodh Gaya blasts of Sunday are pointing the finger of suspicion on the Indian Mujahideen
In the past couple of years, the police have cracked down on several terror operatives of the outfit. Here is a list of absconding IM operatives, whose arrest can derail the terror outfit:
Yasin Bhatkal: A resident of Bhatkal in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, Yasin is believed to be running the Indian Mujahideen today. His name has been associated with all recent IM-orchestrated blasts and is considered to be the primary source of inspiration to the outfit’s cadre. His aliases are Ahmed Siddibappa, Mohammad Zarrar, Ahmed, Imran, Asif and Shahrukh. His last known address is No 938, S M Zarrar Manzil, Jail Road, Ward No 03, Maqdum Colony, PS, Bhatkal, Karnataka.
Riyaz Bhatkal: Riyaz was one of the founder members of the IM. He is said to have fled the country after the heat was stepped up on the outfit. He goes by the alias of Mohammad Riyaz, Ismail Shahbandri and Riyaz Ismail Shahbandri. There have been contradictory reports regarding Riyaz, but the NIA and the IB say that he is in Karachi today. His last known address is Fatima Manzil, Tenginagundi cross, Madina Colony, Bhatkal.
Iqbal Bhatkal: Riyaz Bhatkal’s brother, Iqbal is also one of the founders of the IM. He goes by the alias Mohammad Iqbal and Bada Bhai. He too is said to be in Karachi. His last known address is No 314, Fatima Manzil, Tenginagundi cross, Madina Colony, Bhatkal.
Ariz Khan: Also known as Junaid, his name cropped up in the Pune and Varanasi blasts. He is a resident of Mohalla, Baz Bahadur, Kote Qila Area, PS Kotwali, Azamgarh, UP
Mudassir: Holed up in Lahore currently, Mudassir is one of the best bomb makers in the IM. He was earlier part of the core group, but today newer recruits are sent to him for training.
Mirza Beg: One of the key operatives who is on the run today, Beg is part of the IM’s main command which works alongside Yasin Bhatkal. He is wanted in the German Bakery blasts case as well. He is a resident of Raja ka Quila, PS Kotwali, Azamgarh, UP.
Dr Shahnawaz Alam: He was part of the Indian Mujahideen’s Delhi unit. One of the initial members of the outfit, Alam’s name had cropped up in the Batla House encounter. He goes by the alias Mister and is a resident of No 240, Village Sanjar Pur, P S Sarai Meer, Nizamabad, Dist, Azamgarh UP.
Mohammad Sajid: Sajid was one of the persons who was credited with setting up modules both in UP and Bihar. He goes by the alias Bada Sajid. His last known address is No 237, Village Sanzar Pur, PS Sarai Meer, Tehsil Nizamabad, Azamgarh UP.
Asadullah Akhtar: One of the accused in the Varanasi blasts, which was carried out after the Batla House encounter, this operative was based out of Sharjah for a long time when the IM was regrouping. He goes by the alias Danial. He is a resident of No 536, Near Ghulami Ka Pura (216 Baj Bahadur, behind Tediya Masjid, PS Kotwali, district Azamgarh, UP.
Alamzeb Afridi: He was roped in to handle the Gujarat module and was also part of the blasts there. He has been part of the IM since day one. His whereabouts are unknown.
Abdus Subhan: He is probably the smartest of them all. Earlier an editor with a SIMI newspaper, he made his entry into the IM the day it was launched. He was responsible for overseeing the technical operations of the Indian Mujahideen. Today he is in Pakistan.
Abu Faisal: A close aide of Subhan, he set up the Pune module. Currently based in Karachi, he was with IM’s Maharashtra module and was largely involved in setting up one of the strongest modules in the state at Pune. When Subhan was in the country, he worked closely with him and helped him set up the outfit.
Mohsin: He goes by the alias Ismail Choudhary. Mohsin had played a key role in the Pune blasts and has been handling the Maharashtra module of the IM. His last known address is flat number 3, 1st Floor, Manisha Complex, Mitha Nagar, Kondhwa Khurd, Pune, Maharashtra. – Rediff.com, 8 July 2013
Update
Filed under: india, pakistan | Tagged: bihar, bodh gaya, bodh gaya blasts, buddhism, buddhist temple, communalism, geopolitics, IM, india, indian mujahideen, indian politics, islam, islam in india, islamic iconoclasm, islamic terrorism, jihad, mahabodhi temple, muslim terrorism, pakistan, politics, psychological warfare, religion, temples, terrorism |
BHARATA BHARATI 
Bodh Gaya blasts: NIA releases sketch of suspect
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