Nazir, Shafaz own up B’lore blasts

BANGALORE|NEW DELHI: Key Lashker-e-Toiba operatives T Nazir and Shafaz, arrested recently from the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya, have confirmed that the 2008 Bangalore blasts, which left one dead, were carried out with financial assistance and guidance of LeT. The Pakistan-based terror outfit also funded Nazir and Shafaz’ stay in Bangladesh after the blasts.

Based on the disclosures made by the terror duo, the Bangalore police on Thursday, with the help of the Kerala police, arrested three more accused — Tajuddin from Vedimara, Ernakulam, Sarfuddin alias Sarfu from Kannur in Kerala and Abdul Khadar from Virajpet in Karnataka. The trio had provided logistics like vehicles to carry the hardware for the Bangalore blasts. The four vehicles involved in transportation of bomb materials and planting of bombs have been seized from Kerala. With the latest arrests, the number of the accused in the police net has gone up to 15.

The main accused like Riyaz Bhatkal (30) from Bhatkal town and Sameer(30) of Kannur are still at large. Wali alias Rehan alias Rasheed Obidulla, a Pakistani national, Ali alias Isha alias Ali Abdul Azeez Hooti, a Omani national, and Saleem alias Mabasheer Shayeed alias Yahya, also a Pakistani national, are also wanted in the case. Red-corner notices would be issued subsequently against them, police commissioner Shankar Bidari was quoted by the agencies as saying.

Abdul Sattar, Abdul Jabbar, Mujeeb, Faizal, Abdul Jaleel, Manaf alias Rahees, Sarfuddin, Badruddin, Sakariya, Sarfaraz Nawaz were arrested earlier and police have filed initial chargesheets against them. Main accused Nazir and Shaffaz were arrested a few weeks ago.

During the course of Nazir’s interrogation, it was revealed that he joined Abdul Nassar Madani’s organisation called ISS at the age of 16 and is also a PDP member. Nazir started ginger cultivation in 2005 at Madapura and Hosathota in Coorg, Karnataka. Nawaz and Nazir visited the place and decided to start jihadi training there for youth. Nazir also held a conspiracy meeting with Sarfaraz Nawaz and sought monetary help for carrying out the serial blasts in Bangalore. During March, 2008, Nazir and Sarfaraz along with one more accused Shafiq conducted a recce of Bangalore.

Nazir along with Mujeeb, Aleem, Bomb Ismail, Raisal and Abdul Raheem committed theft of explosives like ammonium nitrate, gelatin sticks and electronic detonators from a shop at Perambavoor, Ernakulam. They collected other accessories like jelly, iron bolt, nuts, cement and newspapers from Bangalore and manufactured bombs in Mujeeb’s house and planted them at various places in Bangalore.