IM was riginally called 'Usaba', says NIA

The banned Indian Mujahideen (IM) was initially named "Usaba" when it came up in Karnataka's Bhatkal, the NIA said in a charge sheet filed against the outfit's co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and three others for planning terror strikes in India.

"Investigation has established that the organisation now known as IM had initially started in the form of a small group called as Usaba (an Arabic word for a group of men more than 11 but less then 40) in Bhatkal," the National Investigation Agency said.

According to the charge sheet, Bhatkal disclosed to the NIA that the "main object of Usaba is to collect the people having same mentality and dedication to do something, which in this case was to wage jihad or holy war against the Hindus, other communities and the Indian state".

Bhatkal with Iqbal Bhatkal, Riyaz Bhatkal, Fasih Mahmood and various others was active member of Usaba, and the group's meetings were held in the house of Iqbal Bhatkal generally every Friday to discuss about weapon training, finances and other matters.

The NIA investigation revealed that Usaba had sent an e-mail claiming responsibility for the Uttar Pradesh court blasts. The term "Indian Mujahideen" mentioned in the email was picked by the media as the outfit's name and the operatives also came to like it and adopted it as their name.

The NIA filed a second charge sheet Feb 20 against Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, Asadullah Akhtar, Manzar Imam and U. Ahmed for their alleged role in the conspiracy and participation in major terrorist attacks at different parts in the country.

It was the second charge sheet filed in the case, registered on Sep 10, 2012, against members of the IM for carrying out terrorist activities and conspiracy for waging war against the country.