3 arrested, 3 wanted in 13/7 blasts, says Rakesh Maria

January 23, 2012 16:07

Giving details of how the ATS went about cracking the 13/7 blasts case, Maharashtra ATS chief Rakesh Maria said on December 2, 2012, a team left for Darbhanga in Bihar, and "a chase started". He also placed on record the tremendous assistance provided to ATS teams by Rajiv Kumar, IG, Calcutta police and Garima Malik, SSP of of Darbhanga.

"We have made two arrests in the case, the first person is 22 year old Naqi Ahmed Wasim Mohammed Sheikha. A resident of Darbhaga, in September-October 2010 he came to Mumbai's Madanpura area. The second is 23 year old Nadim Mukhtar Ashfaque Sheikh, also from Darbhanga, presently staying at Antop Hill."

The two stole the two scooters used in the crime. In addition they stole two other motorcyles for future use, which the ATS has recovered as well as the duplicate keys of the two scooters used in the blasts. A helmet belonging to the original owner of the scooter has also been recovered, Maria said.

In addition, Naqi Ahmed provided SIM cards to the wanted accused, Yasin Ahmed alias Siddibapp alias Imran alias Yasin Bhatkal of the Indian Mujahidden who gave Naqi Rs 1.5 lakh to aid, abet and assist in the crime. "We have independent evidence to corroborate this. Nadim was called by Bhatkal to Delhi, was given a packet to be given to Naqi, containing the explosives and detonators used in this crime.' The explosives were brought into the city by train, Maria said.

Naqi assisted Yasin Bhatkal find accommodation, went around the city, met real estate agents. Two of the houses were rejected by Bhatkal, ultimately the house at Byculla was finalised. Maria also said Bhatkal was in Mumbai only in June-July 2011, and not longer.

It is not that Naqi did not know the antecedents of Bhatkal. Yasin used to visit Naqi at Darbhanga, they have known each other from 2008, Maria said. "We have independent witnesses to corroborate this, of the indoctrination programmes held to induct young buys by Yasin Bhatkal."

The ATS has arrested Naqi and Nadim. The wanted and main accused is Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal alian Imran. The other two accused are only being identified as A and B (it was they who planted the explosives on 13/7). "For the time being, three accused are wanted in this case, investigations still on. ATS teams still out in the field, 40 officers and 113 men constitute a dedicated team of the ATS investigating the case."

A third accused, Haroon Rashid Abdul Hamid Naik had been arrested by the ATS in a counterfeit currency case last year and is seeking his transfer warrant today. "Haroun is from Mumbra near Mumbai, 33 years and we need his custody to investigate the economic trail and conspiracy in this case," Maria said.

"With this, we have three arrested accused and three wanted accused," he added.

About the rivalry between the Delhi police and the ATS over the 13/7 investigation, Maria admitted as much, and said, "There is rivalry between the Delhi police and the ATS, but why not? Rivalry is healthy.'

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