IM planted bombs in Hindu dominated area of Dilsukhnagar to avenge ‘plots’ against Muslims

NEW DELHI: The Indian Mujahedeen had selected the Hyderabad locality of Dilsukhnagar for planting bombs in February last year because it was a Hindu-dominated area and the outfit’s members wanted to avenge "a lot of anti-Muslim activity" in the city, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which probed the blast. Eighteen people were killed when the bombs went off.

Asadullah Akhtar, Zia ur Rahman alias Waqas and Tahseen Akhtar had conducted reconnaissance in the areas of Malakpet, Abids, Koti, Begum Bazar and Dilsukhnagar on instructions from IM chief commander Riyaz Bhatkal, and within two days of their recce, they decided to plant the bombs in Dilsukhnagar to go off around 7 pm, the NIA said in a charge sheet filed last month. ET has seen a copy of the charge sheet.

According to the probe agency, this place and time were selected as the Hindu population in that area is high and a large number of students gather in that area at that time. Asadullah, Waqas and Tahseen, who are accused of planting the bombs, are now in jail and, according to the NIA, have given confessional statements. The NIA says IM’s chief commander Riyaz Bhatkal controlled the operation from Pakistan, while another leader, Yasin Bhatkal, monitored it from Nepal.

The charge sheet also reveals that there was a dispute between Riyaz and Yasin on what kind of bombs should be used in Hyderabad. "Yasin advised them to make thin boat-shaped IEDs for the blast of 1 kg explosive each, which could be carried easily even by tying on the stomach," the NIA said.

Yasin said such small IEDs will have "more impact". However, Riyaz approved for bigger IEDs, the NIA said, adding that the trio was provided 300 tubes of semisolid pinkish coloured ANFO explosive of 100 grams each and 50 detonators.