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This is an archive article published on December 18, 2008

‘IM had 3 groups for targeting north, south and VIPs’

In its first chargesheet in the case related to the Delhi serial blasts on September 13...

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In its first chargesheet in the case related to the Delhi serial blasts on September 13, the Special Cell on Wednesday named three wings of the Indian Mujahideen that were responsible for the attacks across the country — Sahabuddin Brigade (for strikes in South), Mohammad Gaznavi Brigade (for strikes in North) and Shaheed-Al-Zarkavi Brigade (for strikes on VVIPs).

While members of the first group were arrested by the Mumbai Police, Atif Ameen, who was killed in the Jamia Nagar encounter, headed the Gaznavi group. The Shaheed-Al-Zarkavi is reported to be the fidayeen group, members of which are still at large. The 76-page chargesheet, a copy of which is with The Indian Express, also mentions that after the Uttar Pradesh court blasts, the IM set up a “media group” too.

The names of the three groups were revealed during the interrogation of Mohammad Saif, one of the arrested IM members. The chargesheet claims the IM, responsible for blasts in Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and UP, has links with escaped terrorists who are operating from Pakistan. According to the chargesheet, Atif was also given command of the fidayeen group after he successfully carried out the blasts in Ahmedabad on July 27.

Giving details of the operation, the Special Cell says they were intercepting calls from and to Atif’s cellphone. “During the period from September 2 to 19, there were many calls to this number; however, at that stage, the relevance of those conversations could not be understood.” During analysis of call details, it was found that the phone was switched off during the Jaipur blasts on May 13 and the Ahmedabad blasts. Besides revealed hawala links, intercepted conversation also found that on September 6, a week before the blasts, there a conversation between Atif and Mohd Shakeel (in custody) regarding the “parking of an auto”.

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