Joined Indian Mujahideen to die for cause, says Haddi

Indian Mujahideen operative Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi has said he joined the terror outfit to protect the rights of Muslims and his aim was to die for a cause.

In his confession before a magistrate in Miyapur, Andhra Pradesh, the aide of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal admitted his role in various blasts, including the 2013 Dilsukhnagar blast in Hyderabad that killed 17 people.

The confession is part of the charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a Delhi court.

"The Babri Masjid demolition and attack on the World Trade Center and other issues like atrocities on Muslims attacked me much more and that is why I wanted to join the Indian Mujahiddin (sic)," he said.

"...accordingly joined in 2000 in order to protect the rights of Muslims, as we are powerless," Haddi said in his confession.

"The motivator is Shariat ya Shahadat (sic) and the aim is to die for cause," Haddi said.

"Initially, in around 1999 or 2000, one Aftab Ansari started Indian Mujahideen at various places with one Asif Raja Khan, resident of Kolkata, died in encounter in 2002 (sic)," he said.

Haddi said his people attacked the American Center in Kolkata in 2002.

He added that he underwent arms training and learned how to make explosives at a training camp conducted by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Haddi, arrested in August 2013 near the India-Nepal border, is accused of being involved in various terror strikes in India.