Indian Mujahideen planned to attack Akshardham temple

The Indian Mujahideen was planning to attack the Akshardham temple in the national capital and the army cantonment area in Pune, the NIA has said in a charge sheet filed against the outfit's co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and three others.

According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) charge sheet filed Feb 20, data retrieved from laptops seized from Bhatkal and his aide Asadullah Akhtar, members of the Indian Mujahideen were carrying out reconnaissance of the Akshardham temple and Pune cantonment.

The NIA said the accused shared photographs of the temple on internet.

"Investigation revealed that accused Md. Ahmed Siddibapa (alias Yasin Bhatkal) went there for the purpose of recce. This established the design of the accused people for conducting future attacks," it added.

Photographs of Kirkee area in Pune were sent by Indian Mujahideen operative Riyaz Bhatkal to Akhtar through internet in order to carry out a reconnaissance during January-February 2012, the NIA said.