Bangalore: Indian Mujahideen Planted Bombs near Stadium - Madani
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Aug 24: The policemen claim that during their interrogation, People’s Democratic Party leader, Abdul Nasser Madani, has revealed that fundamentalist elements within Indian Mujahideen led by Riaz Bhatkal, had planted bombs near Chinnaswamy Stadium here, a few months back. It may be recalled that after the blasts, Indian Premier League matches scheduled in the city were shifted to Mumbai.
City crime branch policemen have been questioning Madani since the last six days. Reportedly, some other explosive details are among those collected by the police team. The policemen have found that Salman alias Chotu (30) from Kerala, an ardent disciple of Madani, had hatched the plan to set off bombs near the said stadium. A few days before the blasts, he had been arrested. It is presumed that he guided the operations by being inside the jail. Reportedly, those concerned with these blasts, conducted drills for nearly three months in the city before triggering the blasts.
Two blasts near the stadium, just before the final match of the first round between Bangalore Challengers and Mumbai Indians was to take place on April 17 this year, had rocked the state. Four persons had been injured, and three live bombs were also recovered later. The match was played with delay, but subsequent matches were shifted outside the city. Initially, it was thought to be the handiwork of bookies, who had lot of stake in the matches here.
Madani is said to have revealed that the involvement of underworld fugitives sheltered in oil-rich gulf nations in the betting industry here, was the main reason for the blasts. Even though Madani was not directly involved with these blasts, those close to him, like Riaz Bhatkal, Students Islamic Movement of India leader, Sarfraz Nawaz, and Basheer, who were in constant contact with the underworld goons, managed the blasts. A few out of about 100 youths, who work in close coordination with Madani in Karnataka, were also used for the blasts, the policemen say.
Madani also reportedly encouraged over 300 youths from the southern Indian states to get trained in terrorist camps functioning on Pakistan and Bangladesh borders with India. It is also claimed that the policemen have gathered from Madani that donations amounting to hundreds of crores of rupees collected from Saudi Arabia and Dubai were sent to Kerala through Hawala transactions by Abdul Sattar, Sarfraz Nazaz and Abu Hamza, a native of Tamil Nadu, for launching Jehad against India.