State ’jihadis’ just not good enough for blasts

That's the reason main accused in 2008 serial blasts case has given to cops for hiring 'dedicated' Kerala men

State 'jihadis' just not good enough for blasts

That's the reason main accused in 2008 serial blasts case has given to cops for hiring 'dedicated' Kerala men

MAYHEM: The scene at Madiwala bus stop after one of the bomb blasts on July 25, 2008. File pic

Police sources said that both Nasir and his associates are tough nuts to crack and they are not revealing any information easily.

They added that Nasir could have been specially trained on how to handle investigators. Meanwhile, several teams from Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have come to city to get possible leads.

Bangladesh escape

Nasir was nabbed on December 2 with the help of Bangladesh's investigators after the Intelligence Bureau tipped them off about his whereabouts. Officials said that the Bangladesh government, led by Sheikh Haseena, is ready to help the Indian government in this regard, as elections are soon to be held in her country.

"Otherwise it would be very difficult for us to get the suspects once they enter Bangladesh," said a senior police officer who is part of the investigation team.

Soon after the blasts, investigators had launched a massive manhunt for Nasir and his associates, but had to slow down their investigation when the trail led to the Bangladesh border.

Nasir's associate Abdul Sattar, who prepared the vital microchips for the bombs, had worked through a third associate Ayub.

Official sources said that by tracking Ayub's phone calls, they could trace Sattar and nab him too.
Ayub has now taken shelter in Saudi Arabia.

Killing not the aim?

Investigating officials said that the bombs exploded with low intensity because the exploding parts had been concealed in a steel vessel, stones and cement. This has led them to believe that the intentions of the terrorists were not to kill, but only to send signals to the government.

From conspiracy to implementation: The July 25, 2008, serial bomb blasts story

The Ginger estate man
Nasir, of Kannur in Kerala, lived in Hosathota in Suntikoppa of Kodagu for three years with his wife. He owned a ginger estate and often visited Bangalore and Kerala.

The Bangalore plan
Nasir who had a 'Bangalore plan' in his mind and his associate Abdul Raheem (who died in an encounter) planned to shift to Bangalore and take shelter in their associate Mujeeb's house if he got married. Mujeeb was a school dropout and sold fish in Kannur for a living.

To avoid suspicion, Nasir arranged for Mujeeb to marry a local girl in May 2008.

He then offered him an alternative business opportunity and Raheem provided him with a rented house in Hebbagodi.

Mujeeb and his wife started their family in a single bedroom house, and also provided shelter for Nasir, Raheem and others who used to visit regularly for their 'meetings.'

The room later turned into an office, where Nasir got Mujeeb to prepare bombs.

Assembling the bombs
Three days before the attacks, Nasir came to the city with his associates Abdul Sattar, Naushad, Ahmed Bava, Munaf, Sarfuddin and Sakaria. Sattar provided the microchips and the gang assembled the bombs at Mujeeb's house.

Planting the bombs
On July 24, the men disguised as labourers drove a Scorpio car and planted their bombs in nine places. They then stuffed the leftovers in a box and left it in Chennapattana.

The gang members escaped to Kerala via Mysore.

That evening, the box exploded, but the police thought they were firecrackers and ignored it till July 25 happened.

Did you know?
Nasir is suspected to have been involved in the 1999 plot to assassinate the then chief minister of Kerala E K Nayanar.

He had allegedly attempted to kill a leader, Rahim Pokadesai, in January 2008 and had killed a Hindu activist Vinod Kumar.

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